Curiosity

Watercolor and ink on paper, 12”x16”, 2020

As a child, I was delighted by my Grandmother’s stories about the chickadees that followed her throughout her garden, chattering to her while she worked. As an adult, I am even more delighted by the chickadees that follow me throughout my own garden, chattering while I work. Their curiosity mirrors my own, serving as a reminder of something my Grandmother and Mother have always said: “All animals have a personality, right down to the smallest insect.” The more attention I pay to the wildlife around me, the more I realize how very true this is, and I find it humbling and fascinating. To me, chickadees represent curiosity, the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the innate spirits of the animals around us, and a connection to the women in my life who taught me so much about the natural world.