The Things We Tend

The Things We Tend is a reflection on betrayal and manipulation, and the difficult recognition of truths that were obscured by love and familiarity.

A serpent lies coiled among dark dahlias and other blooms symbolizing dishonesty, betrayal, and fractured trust. It rests comfortably within the abundance of the garden. Gardens are places of devotion. We nurture them with patience, tending to what is beautiful and encouraging what we hope will flourish. Over time, we become invested not only in what we have grown, but in what we believe it to be. We may overlook what troubles us, make room for what does not belong, or mistake the familiar for the harmless. The serpent is not an intruder. It has grown comfortable among the flowers, sustained by the same care that allowed the garden to thrive. This painting contemplates the experience of looking back upon something lovingly cultivated and recognizing what had been growing alongside it all along. It explores the ways affection can shape our perception, and the painful distance between what we believed we were nurturing and what was truly taking root.

The garden remains beautiful, even in the presence of betrayal. But once the serpent is seen for what it is, it can never be viewed in quite the same way again.

Be mindful that this artwork ships from Canada and may have tariffs applied upon entering a new country.