As the layers started to build up the colours changed, as they always do. A tree branch grew, and flowers bloomed. Then they melted back into the branch, giving it added strength. The parakeet shyly tucked his head down under his feathers, and his sleek feathers suddenly smoothed into a sleek, rounded body – which started to look like a tadpole. Where on earth had the tadpole come from?? Funnily enough, Master Tadpole struggled to hang on to the branch, so he grew frog legs – as tadpoles do.

The feathers on the parakeet’s crown turned into a handsome twirly hairdo any unidentified amphibian could be proud of. He wanted to dress up a little more, so he claimed some spots to finish off the look. I don’t know where he came from, this twirly headed chameleon like guy – but there was no way I could possibly turn him away.

When a little character asserts himself into my artwork like this I figure they come with a message. And maybe that message is about recognising and celebrating difference. And acceptance. And change.