"If You're a Bird, I'm a Bird" explores the idea that love and connection don’t end with death. As the sun meets the horizon, its golden light lingers - just as the presence of those we’ve loved remains in quiet, enduring ways. The horizon becomes a symbol of transition, while birds in flight speak to the spirit’s freedom and the invisible thread that keeps us connected.

I painted this in 2016 after two deeply personal losses - my grandmother, who died with Alzheimer’s, and my second miscarriage. My grandmother was also an artist, and when I paint, I often feel her with me.

The orange tones honour Palliative Care Australia's signature colour and reflect the compassion of good end-of-life care. The layered mediums (mixed media-oil, acrylic and watercolour on deep edge canvas) mirror grief - soft and raw, still and in motion. Many find comfort in quiet signs: a butterfly, a feather, a sense of presence.

This piece reminds us: grief and joy can coexist. Like the sun that sets and rises again, we learn to carry both the darkness and the light - and honour our own stories, too.