Chai Of The Morning

Jodi Bonassi

19.5″ x 15.5″

Mixed media drawing on Arches paper

Jodi Bonassi’s “Chai Of The Morning” is an intricately detailed avian portrait is a meditation on life, fragility, and the quiet endurance of nature. The central dove, rendered with an almost sculptural softness, exudes a presence that is both wounded yet resilient, vulnerable yet grounded. Each meticulously placed feather is imbued with a sense of movement and depth, its layered texture forming a contrast against the delicate, linear background that intertwines organic forms of flora and smaller birds in various stages of life.

The composition unfolds like an ornithological tapestry, where the surrounding network of sunflowers, branches, and hatchlings creates an intricate frame—a symbolic ecosystem that speaks to cycles of birth, growth, and perseverance. Bonassi’s masterful use of selective coloration draws the eye to the primary figure, emphasizing its physical and emotional weight against the subdued, almost ghostly outlines of the surrounding elements. The floral forms appear to dissolve into the background, merging with the fragile young birds nestled within them, reinforcing a theme of impermanence and interconnectedness.

With this piece, Bonassi blurs the line between fine art and natural history illustration, weaving a visual narrative that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant. It is not merely a study of avian life but a lyrical exploration of endurance, beauty, and the ephemeral nature of existence—a work that invites viewers to contemplate their own place within the intricate web of life.