I put the apples in to balance his tail. This is one of the few times I have actually drawn a bird and one of the few times I have ever painted completely on the computer like one would on a canvas. It was commissioned by Alexander Gonzales.

The program used for this is open canvas 1.0

The interesting part about a phoenix is when I was researching to draw them I discovered they are pretty much identical to a peacock.

Another fun fact. After I had finished it and posted it online someone informed me that there is actually a Russian myth about phoenixes and apples. XD The phoenix liked them and kept stealing them. Mmmm tasty apples.