Farewell to Spring
Description
This tightly rendered watercolour combines two of the artist’s favorite subjects from his early work: birds and flowers. A lone waxwing sits in solitude, framed by a curving branch decorated with pink blossoms. The high-value background of turquoise shapes contrasts with the crisp, illustrative detail of the subject while suggesting a soft natural context. Additionally, the pinks and blues are colors often associated with the birth of children; so while the title Farewell to Spring marks a goodbye, the artwork also hints at the beautiful birth of something new.
Artists Reflection
I have always loved painting birds and flowers because they are simply beautiful. They also feature in Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-31, two parallel passages that are close to my heart. I was inspired to make this piece after watching the waxwings feed on the tree outside my kitchen window.
In the context of this work, “spring” relates to a season of life rather than the season of the year. I created it in my mid-twenties, the season of childhood firmly behind me. By this time I had been devoting most of my energy to my art for several years. At its completion, I remember thinking it was my best work. Looking back, I believe this piece marked a shift in my artistic journey from amateur to professional. Not to say that I haven’t made some terrible pieces since then, but on average, my work fundamentally shifted here—along with how I think about myself and my art.