A single Canadian goose stands in shallow water, framed by forest and softened light. One foot is raised, the beak slightly open, suggesting breath or the beginning of movement. In the distance, a faint city skyline dissolves into mist, present but subdued.

The work reflects on moments of pause within change, where reflection gathers through attentiveness to place, memory, and the quiet coexistence of natural and human worlds.

Where Reflection Settles

This painting was born of spring walks when the city felt softened by the blossom light and reflections in the water. I wanted the two geese to carry a sense of partnership, quiet, loyal, and calm, standing together beneath branches that seem to bless the season. The harbour, soft sky, and pale pink bloom create a space between reality and memory. For me, this work is about renewal and closeness: those gentle moments when the world feels briefly kinder, and even familiar places become full of grace.

Where Spring Stands Together

This is an imaginative woodland fantasy; a grand, weathered tree stump becomes a portal to an enchanted realm. Surrounded by blooming lupines and apple blossoms, magical creatures emerge—an ethereal ghostlike guardian drapes from a branch, a curious horned spirit peers from above, and a mysterious avian entity with gemstone eyes watches from the roots. A luminous green fairy hovers among the flowers, whispering secrets to the forest. This scene blends the innocence of springtime with a whisper of mischief and mystery, inviting viewers into a lush world where nature and magic breathe together.

Guardians of the Fairy Forest

A Yakama Nation elder walks through a forest layered in vertical light. A Canada goose spirit appears within the trees - grounded, watchful, quietly luminous.

The forest acts as a witness rather than a backdrop, holding both the elder and the bird in a shared space. Neither dominates; both belong to the presence. The work reflects on the reciprocal presence of land as listener, life as interwoven. Within this woodland, protection is organic and coexistence is natural. Elder, goose, and forest exist in quiet continuity, sustained by the same breath.

Where the Forest Listens

This painting grew from my feeling that the forest remembers how to listen. I was moved by the quiet dignity of an elder sitting close to a Canada goose, not as owner or observer, but as an equal presence in the living world. The deer in the background and the soft woodland light deepen that sense of silent understanding. I wanted to paint a moment of humility, respect, and inner stillness—when nature does not speak in words, yet gives companionship, knowledge, and peace.

Quiet Friends Discussion

Held by the Living World reflects protection, resilience, and the quiet bond between human presence and the natural world. A woman and a Canada goose appear as close companions, joined in trust, alertness, and shared strength. Set within an open landscape, the painting speaks to belonging, memory, and the healing support we find when we live in respectful relationship with the living world around us.

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Olga Bunevich

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