Swan River - medium scale

An original artwork made with love by Hannah Wynn Kendall.

Oil paint on stretched cotton canvas.

100 X 70 cm.

'Swan River' is a play on Swan Lake, inspired by the canal I grew up near and the seasonal family of swans that would return to raise their young. 

Each week you can walk the canal in Shropshire and notice in quiet moments the changes that happen, the growth of each baby, seasonal flowers, and how quickly it can adapt. 

My aim was to paint mamma swan and her babies following in tandem. Each cygnet with their own characteristic and charms, I love watching how they navigate the ecosystem and week after week grow up.
I pieced together many reference photos to create this painting, and whilst painting I wanted to explore the idea of looking up to our role models to see how they act and navigate the world. Some of the cygnets here are left blank for good reason, some are still finding their way, a feeling I have experienced well into adulthood. Understanding how we each fit into the order. But what we also see in the painting is how the mother swan too, is exploring unchartered - unpainted - waters. Yet she continues to observe, learn, and teach.

I imagine this piece living in a nursery room, play room, or creative space. I used bright jewel toned greens against cerulean blue and purples which creates a dual sense of peace and play. A reminder to growing minds they too have the opportunity to learn and change as we each experience life.