I created this piece early in my period of acute grief after my husband’s death. It was winter; I had taken a bad fall and was feeling alone and vulnerable. Taking walks on snow and ice-covered surfaces felt threatening and anxiety-provoking. Where I once found relaxation and inspiration in my rambles through nature, I now felt guarded and uncomfortable.

I started this canvas by painting the background and creating a snow effect through spattering. I used fiber paste to depict drifting snow and icicles on a bare branch. As I worked, I wondered how I could introduce a sense of hope into this bleak landscape. I decided to make a chrysalis by enclosing a folded wing, which I had painted with brightly-colored markers and embellished with crystals, in layers of netting and tulle.

After attaching the chrysalis to the branch, I decoupaged the message over the snow. I placed the canvas in the sun. The crystals sparkled in the light, promising me hope and serving as inspiration during those challenging months.