#293 - Stars and Lanterns

This painting was inspired by the forest floors I’ve wandered through in Ontario during early spring, when the land begins to stir with quiet renewal. White trilliums Ontario’s official provincial flower bloom with grace alongside native wood anemones, Dutchman’s breeches, and a single golden cloudberry nestled gently below. These wildflowers, scattered like stars and lanterns across the woodland floor, signal the season’s first bloom with quiet beauty. Soft light filters through the trees, casting a gentle warmth that reveals the delicate forms beneath. I used a palette of rich greens and soft whites to reflect the calm and contemplative spirit of these woods. This piece is a tribute to Ontario’s native flora and the quiet wonder found in spring’s return.

Trilliums naturally have three petals, three leaves, and three sepals. However, on rare occasions, a trillium can display four petals, four leaves, and four sepals, much like the rare occurrence of a four-leaf clover. This unusual variation is called a “four-leaf trillium.”