My first flamingo—and my first true step into whimsy.

Inspired by my love of brilliantly colored birds and the playful absurdity of Alice in Wonderland, this piece was never meant to be serious. It was meant to be joyful. Curious. A little rebellious. A reminder that art doesn’t have to behave to be meaningful.

Flamingos felt like the perfect muse, elegant yet strange, bold yet lighthearted. This painting was created during a season when I was giving myself permission to explore imagination again, to let color be fun, and to follow ideas simply because they delighted me.

Much like the crooked croquet game in Wonderland, Queen’s Croquet celebrates the beauty of doing things differently. Bright color, expressive movement, and a touch of fantasy come together in a piece that marked my growing love for playful storytelling through paint.

A rare archive piece from the moment whimsy entered my work—and never left.