This is part of a series of four bird paintings I did for greeting cards featuring hymn verses. I was more apprehensive about this painting than the other three because I thought that a songbird amidst cherry blossoms at dawn stood a good chance of looking too Hallmark-y. But I am pleased with how it turned out, thanks in large part to my keen-eyed husband’s advice with the flowers and the background. The message for this card is “Rejoicing with you,” and it features the first verse of the hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.”

Joyful, joyful we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Praising Thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.

Hymn text is public domain.