Magic Quetzal by Gloria Caballero

Oil on Canvas
24" x 36"

Artist Gloria Caballero has exhibited in San Diego, La Jolla, Chula Vista, El Paso, Tijuana and Mexico City. She lives with her husband in San Diego, California.

Artist Statement:

It would seem that to come upon the beautiful quetzal bird in the jungle area of Mexico or Central America would be almost impossible. So much legend and lore surrounds this almost mystical creature that actually seeing it in real life would be astounding. But possible it is and the quetzal bird exists in its exotic splendor, however imbued it is with an aura of magic.

The more I read about the quetzal the more drawn I was to putting its image on canvas. I wanted not just to paint its physical image but most of all to paint the actual moment when one comes upon it in the rain forest and is startled into silence by the radiance and magic that surrounds this living legend.