Cardinals

I started painting cardinals as part of the Cut Off Collection in 2021. At the time I was mourning the passing of my mom. I felt so cut off from her and other family members who had died, including my dad and son. Painting the cardinals gave me a time to think about them individually and meditate on who they were and our time together. 

On a cold winter day in Michigan back in 2008, A cardinal landed in a tree right outside my window. He looked so intently at me, it caught me off guard. I had the thought for one second that my ancestors were near. The moment passed and I went on with my life. Fast forward 10 years and a passing stranger mentioned that cardinals symbolize the visitation of a lost love one. I thought that was so interesting as I reflected on my experience years before. 

Now, painting cardinals acts as a form of portraiture, not of a person's likeness but of their personality. Sometimes cardinals look sassy, or curious, or watchful, and I find that fascinating to paint. Painting these characteristics connects me to my loved ones and serves as a portrait of their essence. Not of their face or body, but of their who they were.