A phoenix rises ... from flowers

We have all read about the mythical phoenix, which when it dies, resurrects itself from a funeral pyre of its own making, so that it rises from its own ashes, as it were. Bizarre though this sounds, phoenixes are associated with rebirth, everlasting life, starting over.

In Chinese cultures, phoenixes are used to depict brides. Grooms are represented by dragons. So the coming together of two - it is assumed, majestic - mythical creatures heralds a good union.

In Chinese cuisine, chicken claws (braised or prepared in whatever way) are euphemistically referred to as "phoenix claws". No amount of sugar coating is going to make me like eating the stuff. The scaliness of the chicken claws put me off.

Anyhow, the next pic I colored in was from my Kerby Rosanes Mythomorphia book - one of a phoenix rising, not from ashes, but from a bush of what looks to be hibiscus flowers.

I went with a red/orange/yellow palette for the bird, the wing tips of which Rosanes rendered to look like flames. His twist to the myth comes in the flowers.

My interpretation here is that the phoenix is resurrecting itself by drawing on the life force (that is, the colors) of the plants, instead of a bonfire, hence the greyness of the flowers nearest the bird. I used brighter pinks and greens in the plants at the foot of the page.