Original Watercolour Song Sparrow

Tasha’s affinity with birds shows in the countless individuals in her Christmas cards, her springtime borders, and anywhere a spark of black eye and delicate feather were needed to enliven a scene. 

This particular original showcases a Song Sparrow, one of Tasha’s favorite singers. This friend perches in a late autumn bouquet of seeds pods, a thorned cane, bittersweet berries, a hemlock branch tip, and more. The strong rose cane or blackberry briar provides structure to the illustration, beginning at the bottom left and rising to the top right. We still remember such thorny stems plucking the scarves from Tasha’s head as she passed under in her older years. Mimicking a floral Valentine arrangement, Tasha has painted grasses to suggest ribbons

One can imagine that it won’t be long before this particular Song Sparrow will fly south for warmer climes. Surely its breath will be showing soon as it sings in the cold morning air. Though Tasha likely completed this painting in New Hampshire, Song Sparrows were a favorite of hers in Vermont too. 

This drawing was originally purchased at the Dutch Inn Gift Shop in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, which was owned and run by longtime Tudor family friends Ned Hills and his sister, Charlotte Hills Brown. This piece has been in the same family since its purchase on March 12, 1972.

The frame and French matte are in very good condition, and are suitable for immediate display. 

Watercolour

Circa 1960s

Outer Frame size: 14” x 17 ⅛”  

Matte opening size:  5 ⅞” x 7 ⅜”