Penei'a e te moa Painting

In French Polynesia the young boys "adopt" a rooster and carry it around with them, with a string on it's leg. They toss it into a group of chickens and see if it shows it's "mettle" with a rival rooster. They generally don't get too barbarous about it, it's more for the fun. This little boy, "Penei'a" is my next door neighbour, and I have frequently used him and his brothers as models in my drawings and paintings. They have gorgeous warm skin tones and beautiful eyes, and they all grew up with long ponytails, which is traditional in the true Tahitian lifestyle. I love observing the Maohi way of life, the children spend all their time in nature, playing with whatever they find. There is such freedom in their world, barely needing any clothes, never fearing hunger, being at one with the elements. Being. Human. Present.