8x12 Oil on Cedar
 
The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all the penguin species and lives in Antarctica.  Both male and female are similar in plumage and size (3.6-4.4 ft in height).  They use their strong claws to grip the ice surface as they shuffle along but they also slide on their sleek bellies while pushing with their feet.  However in the water, they are fast and graceful swimmers; they swim faster and dive deeper than any other bird.  Children are all familiar with movies "Happy Feet" and "Mr. Popper's Penguins".