Laura’s Carolina Wren

Dear Tina, 

I hope this letter finds you well. My latest piece was inspired by an unexpected moment that unfolded on my back porch this summer.

It all started when I noticed two Carolina wrens—tiny, busy creatures—building a nest in one of my plants. I’d never seen this type of wren before, so I was curious and quickly became captivated by their presence. The male would sing every day, filling the air with such joy and life. I named the female Sophie and since my plant was eye level I could look in at her sitting on her eggs. There was something so delicate and intimate about watching her sit quietly, protecting this little world she had created.

But after just four days, I noticed the eggs were broken, and Sophie had abandoned the nest. I was heartbroken. There was a certain silence after that as if the song had left with her.

This tender, bittersweet moment moved me to want to draw her. The loose watercolor egg and sun are about the delicate balance between life’s potential and its fleeting nature. The egg represents the fragile promise of new beginnings, while the sun symbolizes the warmth and hope that nourishes it. Yet, the softness of the watercolor hints at how easily these promises can slip away, like sunlight fading at the end of the day. There’s a quiet tenderness in their interaction, a reminder that even in loss, there’s beauty and the ever-present possibility of renewal.

Love, laura 💞