Secret Garden, 16"x20" Print

One of the things that brought me great Joy as a child was visiting some my grandmother’s friends in England. We emigrated to the States from the UK when I was a toddler and every three years or so we would go back for a visit to see our extended family. My grandmother had a beautiful mid-century modern house in a small village in Dorset (she had been a successful entrepreneur earlier in her life). The house was built to her design with sweeping views of the English countryside and even a peak-a-boo glint of the English Channel. We would wake up in the mornings to the gentle cooing of doves and the bleats of sheep and just a note or two of cowbell swaying in the distance. At teatime in the afternoons, we often made the rounds to visit with her friends—all of whom my brother and I called Auntie. There was Auntie Pat who always had 4-5 golden retrievers and a couple of whippets. There was Auntie Thelma who was bawdy and hilarious and always had special kid friendly treats and sodas in the mini-fridge. Her voice sounded like gravel after a night out at the pub. And then there was Auntie Ann, who lived in the center of the village. She had a beautiful stone cottage and behind the cottage was an extraordinary garden—filled to the brim with roses, sweet peas, and flowers of every size, shape, and fragrance. I would spend the visits saying perfunctory hellos in the conservatory before going out back to get lost amongst the roses and bay bushes that made up the winding paths of her garden. I have such fond memories of that space and the love that Auntie Ann put into caring for all those flowers and I wanted to bring that to life with thick paint and rich textures—and all the colors of that magical secret garden. Where is your favorite garden? Bring those memories alive with this work of Joy. “Secret Garden” measures 16”x20” on gallery wrapped canvas, with painted edges (so no need to frame).