I came across this flamingo late in the afternoon, moving so slowly it felt almost human — as if it were deep in thought. The water around it was glowing with those ember-like colours you only get at the end of the day: oranges fading into pinks, pinks softening into rose. It wasn’t a dramatic sunset; it was quiet, gentle, the kind of light you only notice when you stop and really look.

Something about the bird’s stillness stayed with me. It looked peaceful, but also contemplative — like it had lived a whole week in one day and was walking it off, step by step. I painted it because I loved that mood. It reminded me that even in nature, there are moments of reflection, moments where everything seems to slow down just enough for you to catch your breath. That’s what I wanted to capture.