Holding the Bloom (2026) Original Pastel Drawing by Oxana Babkina

I created this miniature painting during a visit to a peony farm just outside Calgary. The day was surprisingly cloudy—soft grey skies and a calm, gloomy light seemed to suggest the blooms might feel muted. But when the flowers opened, they revealed a vivid world of colour that completely surprised me.
At the same time, the grey day made the surrounding greenery feel even more striking. In peak bloom, the plants were at their greenest and fullest, but because the season moves so quickly, I knew I wouldn’t be able to see this richness again later. This painting became my way of holding onto that moment—the contrast between muted skies and bursting blossoms, the feeling of abundance, and the brief beauty of a year’s peak

Materials used:

soft pastel

Details:

• Pastel drawing on Paper
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 20.32 x 25.4 x 0.25cm (unframed) / 20.32 x 25.4cm (actual image size)
• Ready to hang
• Signed on the back
• Style: Impressionistic
• Subject: Flowers and plants