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Sitting down with my brush and paints, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I wanted to capture that feeling in this piece, a sense of serenity and peacefulness. I began with the nest itself, using loose brushstrokes of browns and greens to create a textured cradle for the new life about to begin. Each stroke felt deliberate, yet soft, building a foundation that was both secure and inviting.

Next, I turned my attention to the eggs. I wanted them to be the focal point of the piece, so I mixed, yellow ochre, raw umber and magenta. Using the tip of my brush, I carefully painted each egg, letting the gansai paint create subtle variations in tone. The tiny imperfections in each egg, the way the light seemed to dance on their surface, all added to the feeling of anticipation. I used a shadowy mix by adding Paynes grey to create deep shadows for the bottom part of the nest. I watered it down to create gentle shadows on the eggs themselves.

As I painted, I imagined the wren parents, flitting busily around the nest, gathering materials and preparing for their new arrivals. But I purposely left them out of the scene. The focus here was on the quiet miracle of new life, the promise held within those fragile shells.

Finally, I softened the edges of the piece, letting the background fade away. This helped to create a sense of intimacy and focus on the nest itself. I wanted the viewer to be drawn into the nest, and to feel the peacefulness of the moment with the vibrant colors surrounding it.

With the final brushstroke, I stepped back to admire my work. It was a simple scene, but it captured the essence of what I wanted to express: the serenity of nature and the wonder of new life.

The original gansai painting will be sold at Lost River Works Gallery in Wardensville, WV. No prints have been made of this painting.

Please feel free to use the form below for commissions or gallery appearances. I will answer your request as soon as possible.

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