Where the Swans Nest - Original painting • Gouache, Colored Pencil & Pastel

A quiet cove in late fall, where the colors burn low and slow. This lakeside scene was painted from memory and feeling - the hush of foliage before it falls, the hush of water holding the sky, the hush that tells you you’re standing somewhere the swans come back to every year.

Painted on 100% cotton archival paper, the image itself measures about 2.6″ × 2.8″, with a soft border of unpainted paper extending approximately ½″ on each side. It is signed on the reverse.

It’s part of my Kindling Season collection: small original paintings made to honor the season of gathering light, warmth, transitions, and comforts. Each piece is a small practice in noticing.

Medium & Materials

Original gouache, colored pencil, and PanPastel on 100% cotton watercolor paper. All materials are archival and lightfast, meant to last.

Artwork Size and Format

• Image area: about 2.6″ × 2.8″ (≈ 6.7 × 7.1 cm)
• Uniform border: ~½″ (≈ 1.3–1.4 cm)
• Overall paper: ~3.8″ × 4.0″ (≈ 9.5 × 10.0 cm)
• One-of-a-kind original
• Gouache on heavyweight 100% cotton paper
• Signed on back
• Comes mounted on acid-free white backing board (unframed).

Framing Notes

• Paper size: 3¾″ × 3 15⁄16″ (just under 4×4).
• Great fit: Float-mounted in a standard 4″ × 4″ frame (shows the full 9⁄16″ border).
• More breathing room: 5″ × 5″ frame—either float or use a mat with a window cut to about 2½″ × 2 11⁄16″ to show only the image area.
• Gallery look: mat or float in 8″ × 8″. 

Placement Suggestion

This piece shines in a modern or vintage frame.  Try this on a mini art ledge, in a cozy corner or paired with other Kindling pieces, candles, a favorite mug, or a stack of cozy books.