Determined Mottled Mallard

Size: 30,3 x 22,6 cm

Materials: Watercolour and fine-liner on watercolour paper

The Determined Mottled Mallard is the 11th bird in my series of Strange Birds. I actually chose the name before the colours. I knew I wanted to paint a locally occurring Duck, instead of the standard white one, and I stumbled across the words mottled and determined while searching for reference images. So it became a Determined Mottled Mallard.

As a symbol, the Duck asks you to notice your surroundings because a new opportunity is available for you. It’s reminding you to move forward and that to be successful with your goals you have to move now! Quick movements will help your ideas to take flight.

Another message it has it that you need to be in the moment, go with the flow. Mallards don’t like to be alone, so it also speaks of the need to be around like-minded people, where you feel comfortable and safe. As a Celtic animal symbol, it speaks of honesty, simplicity, and resourcefulness.