Mom's Garden I

Mom's Garden I by Vivian Edwards©

Vivian Edwards: “This piece captures a late snow that blanketed the garden one morning, surprising us as the daffodils stood in full bloom. This morning, the garden was blanketed with snow and ice, every tree branch weighed down with burden, and the sky seemed to merge into the foreground with a soft, gray heaviness. The daffodils, usually so upright, were bent under the weight, with icy droplets clinging to their petals, giving the whole scene a quiet resilience.

I added a small wild rabbit as a gentle touch of life in the painting, even though he wasn’t truly there that day. It felt natural to imagine him there, nose to the ground, braving the chill in search of food amidst the snow-covered garden. His presence brings warmth to this winter-worn landscape, making it feel alive despite the cold.”

This painting was inspired by two photos I took during a snowfall at our farm. The blue ceramic flowerpot was left outside over the winter—one of those tasks you always mean to get to but keep putting off. The snow around the blue pot caught my eye; I liked the contrast. The daffodils were photographed the next morning, frozen in ice after the snow melted overnight. I loved how they seemed literally frozen in time. To complete the scene, I wanted to include a critter to capture your heart. After flipping through books, magazines, and photos, I found the perfect subject, just the right size for the flowerpot.

Vivian Edwards©