For this project, I wanted to challenge myself to get away from my usual style and create a piece with more contrast to it. This piece is religious in nature and plays with the idea of duality and the inner battle between good and evil.  The parrot was chosen to represent hope because I enjoy the renaissance meaning of parrots. (The parrot says "Ave", opposite of "Eve" mother of sin. Indirectly the parrot calls to Virgin Mary, mother of salvation often considered Eve's opposite in that time period. Remove the issue of Eve-shaming from the equation, and the symbol essentially becomes God's promise of redemption through Christ) So the parrot, rather than representing Christ or God themselves, represents a promise or hope, whereas the serpent is very directly the devil's influence on the figure. Essentially, just as the average Christian sees in daily life, sin tempts them actively, whereas God is seemingly inactive in the exchange. So rather than direct holy intervention in the serpent's wiles, hope through a promise combats temptation. So why darken that blue? Because that faith and hope is hardly as vivid as temptation. The will of God is present, but not loud. So the serpent gets to be brighter and louder than the bird. "Look at me, do what I say" it yells, while the parrot quietly whispers "Ave Ave", and one must make an effort to focus on the parrot's voice.