“Hello, It’s Me!” - Birds of Paradise series, No. 4
 
There’s an old belief that when a cardinal appears, it’s a sign that someone you’ve lost is near—a quiet reminder that love doesn’t disappear, it just changes form.
 
One spring morning, a cardinal landed in the woods behind my home on the anniversary of my mother’s passing. It stopped me in my tracks. A moment of beauty, of presence. Maybe it was just a bird. Maybe not.
 
Later that season, as I sat quietly in my kitchen, a female cardinal flew straight to my windowsill. The window was closed, but she looked directly at me. No flutter, no pecking. Just stillness. As if to say, “Hello, it’s me.”
 
That moment became the heartbeat of this painting. I didn’t want to paint just a bird. I wanted to paint a visit.
 
But there’s another layer to this piece. Just before painting it, I’d hit a rough patch with another artwork—a dramatic Pegasus piece that left me feeling frustrated and unsure of my skills. I put it aside and lost confidence for a bit. I decided to shift focus and create something simpler, something that felt like a win.
 
The cardinal was that turning point. I chose a smaller canvas, played with a background style I’d never tried before, and painted boldly. It only took a few hours, but it gave me back something I’d lost: joy, flow, belief in my brush again.
 
This painting didn’t just say “Hello, it’s me.” It said, “You’re still an artist. Keep going.”
 
From the Birds of Paradise series – exploring expressive birds in vibrant color and motion
Giclee archival print
(plus $10 shipping)