This painting is inspired by my great-grandmother, June Lutz. She had a deep love for chickens and roosters - figurines, plush toys, collectibles of all kinds. Because of her, every time I see a chicken, whether it be on the side of the road or in a place it doesn’t quite belong, I feel like she’s with me, a small sign that she’s still watching over me.

I was lucky enough to have known her into my early twenties. One of my favorite memories of her is a small, closed-off room she was a little embarrassed by, always telling people not to go in lol. It was overflowing (and I mean wall to wall) with crafts, stickers, figurines, and endless supplies. From that room, she would create themed gift packages for every holiday and send them to me. I think that’s where my love for little trinkets began.

Time has gone on and I don’t see as many chickens or little signs that give me that same feeling of her watching over me. I miss it which is why I felt inspired to paint something that would bring that familiar feeling back.

The painting began very clean and simple, just a chicken. But the longer I worked on it, the more I felt I shouldn’t make it what I thought she would have wanted, but instead to paint how I envision her energy. I let it become expressive, and abstract, not super messy but interesting in a beautiful way to reflect her craft room and the creative chaos she lived in so joyfully.

Grandma June currently on display at The Willow located in Middleburg, Virginia.

18×24 inch arcylic, oil, and mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas.

Please note: because every canvas is treated like the work of art it is, it may take up to three weeks to ship. Each piece is carefully packed in a custom-built box to make sure it arrives safe and ready to hang.