Mandarin Duck - Aix galericulata

After purchasing the new Derwent Lightfast colored pencil 72 set I needed to find something colorful to draw to test out the colors.  The Mandarin Duck fit the bill perfectly! (pun intended)

It's bold bright colors were just what I needed to test out as many of the new pencils as possible.  I think I used just about every single color!  I am quite pleased with how this turned out and with the new colored pencils as well!  I hope you enjoy a print of this colorful, cheerful boy!

Interesting Facts:

• Mandarin Ducks, unlike other duck species, are believed to mate for life.
• Because the male and female plumages of the mandarin duck are so unalike, yuan-yang is frequently used colloquially in Cantonese to mean an "odd couple" or "unlikely pair."
• In Korean culture mandarin ducks represent peace, fidelity, and plentiful offspring.  Pairs of mandarin ducks called wedding ducks are often given as wedding gifts and play a significant role in Korean marriage.

"Mandarin Duck" is an 8 x 10 inch giclée archival print on:

Smooth Fine Art, Moab Entrada Bright White 290 gsm, 21.5 mil, archival:
Bright white, 100% cotton, slightly textured, smooth fine art surface. Exceptional color reproduction and dmax. Moab Entrada is an archival paper for beautiful long lasting prints.