Acrylic, oil and silver leaf on wooden panel, 14x14x2.5cm. 
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This painting features the Shima-enaga, a tiny Japanese long-tailed tit often called the snow fairy — a name inspired by its cloud-soft white feathers, round shape, and almost magical appearance as it drifts through snowy forests. Within the Sacred Songbird series, it is elevated as a symbol of gentleness, hope, and quiet strength. The soft golden halo behind the bird marks it as something sacred — a reminder that purity and softness are not weaknesses, but powerful states of being.
Despite its delicate presence, the snow fairy survives some of the harshest winters, making it a symbol of resilience, calm, and light enduring in dark seasons. Perched in stillness, the Shima-enaga invites us to slow down, to notice the quiet magic around us, and to trust that even the softest beings can carry great inner strength.