The Cassowary, despite its history, flamboyance, size and disposition, remains largely unknown by the general public, yet has become a subject of fascination for me. Like the Ostrich and the Emu, the Cassowary is a member of the Ratite family. This third of the largest flightless birds can grow four to six feet and live up to 40 to 50 years. It can run up to 30 miles per hour and swim with ease. Their voice sounds like thunder and can be heard up to five miles away.

In northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, their native land, Cassowaries are notoriously vicious and known to attack and kill men with their dagger-like toenail.

As their habitat dwindles due to sugar plantations and development, theses elusive birds are encountering more humans and civilization. Starvation, disease, cars, guns and dogs have put the Cassowary on the endangered species list.

What captures me most is their story of threatened extinction and their odd beauty. What started out at portraits have become contemporary icons using crumbling gold leaf to deify and to symbolize their disintegrating habitat. My work with the Cassowary as painting subject continues, as well as portraits of other wildlife nearing extinction.