Quiet Giant
Jordan Perkins
Acrylic on Canvas
36" x 48"
Quiet Giant captures the immense presence of a bull moose with all the colour, energy and personality that make Jordan Perkins’ work so immediately recognizable. Filling the canvas, the animal seems to emerge from an explosion of autumn colour—powerful and imposing, yet remarkably calm.
The first thing that commands attention is the extraordinary sweep of the antlers. Perkins exaggerates their scale just enough to make them almost architectural, stretching across the upper half of the canvas in overlapping curves of cream, ochre, turquoise and warm brown. They create movement before the viewer even reaches the animal’s face, giving this quiet figure an unmistakable sense of grandeur.
Then there is the eye.
Set beneath the enormous antlers, that single warm, watchful eye completely changes the character of the painting. There is no aggression here. Instead, Perkins gives his subject an expression that feels observant, patient and perhaps even slightly amused. For an animal of such tremendous size and strength, there is an unexpected gentleness—and that contrast gives Quiet Giant its personality.
Perkins builds the moose through wonderfully loose passages of chocolate brown, black, amber, copper and burnt orange. The brushwork remains visible and energetic rather than becoming overly polished. Flecks of turquoise appear unexpectedly through the darker areas, connecting the animal to the more abstract passages surrounding it.
The background is particularly dramatic. Fiery orange and red dominate one side of the composition before disappearing into deep charcoal and forest tones on the other. Turquoise, gold and red splatters dance across both the animal and its surroundings. The result feels less like a conventional wildlife portrait and more like an encounter—a moment when this enormous animal has suddenly stepped out of the Canadian wilderness and directly into Jordan Perkins’ colourful imagination.
And that is part of the fun of Jordan’s work. He clearly respects the animals he paints, but he refuses to make them overly serious. His paintings have confidence, humour and attitude. He gives wildlife personalities rather than simply reproducing appearances, and Quiet Giant is a perfect example. There is something wonderfully contradictory about this huge creature with its spectacular antlers simply standing there, calmly watching us.
At 36" x 48", Quiet Giant has significant presence. From across a room, the fiery colour and enormous antlers immediately attract attention. Move closer and the painting changes—the splashes, scratches, layered brushwork and unexpected flashes of colour become increasingly apparent. It is a substantial statement piece without losing the sense of fun that defines Perkins’ work.
Jordan Perkins has built a devoted following in part because his personality and his paintings seem inseparable: energetic, colourful, playful and never particularly interested in being ordinary. Quiet Giant captures that spirit beautifully—a magnificent Canadian animal painted with enough reverence to honour it and enough Jordan Perkins personality to make you smile.
At Peachland Village Art Studio, we believe collecting original art should be as much about connection and enjoyment as it is about the work itself. We are proud to showcase Jordan Perkins alongside an evolving collection of exceptional local, Canadian and international artists. Quiet Giant embodies what we want visitors to discover here: original art with craftsmanship, character and a story—work that doesn't simply occupy a wall, but becomes part of the personality of the space around it.
