Close-up of two wishbones on a textured, painted background.

The Wishbone Series

A reflective small works series.

A hand holding a wishbone, next to a painting two wishbones tied with string on a textured surface. The painting is signed with initials 'cmv.' in the lower right corner.

One painting sparked an eleven year series of small, self-reflective works—painted from 2010 through 2021.

Want to know what you truly desire? Make a wish. A spur-of-the-moment, straight-from-the-heart wish.

Secret desires whispered quietly in our minds, cast upon objects grounded in superstition and passed down through ancient traditions.

Wishing is a frivolous act, yet one carried out with great intention. We want to believe, so deeply, that whispering our secret desires over a bone will somehow bring them into existence. Rarely do they come true. Still, there is value in wishing. Our secret wishes help us find direction and answer questions we didn't know to ask.

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*All images and words on this page and throughout this website are copyrighted. I do not license my work or words and unauthorized use of either is prohibited.

A wishbone a white background

choose wisely

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2010, 🔴 SOLD

The painting that started it all.

Painting of a wishbone with a small gray pushpin on a brown background.

just in case

7×5 inch oil on panel, 2012, 🔴 SOLD

Fell down a rabbit hole of wishbone lore after painting this one. There was an immediate connection for myself and others.

The first painting in this series was simply something to paint—a chicken wishbone saved for my daughter. Later, I saved a turkey wishbone and fell down a rabbit hole researching the origins of wishing on—and breaking—these delicate little bones.

I've spent a great deal of time contemplating why we make wishes and what we wish for most. At its heart, wishing is an intentional act of hope. We know our wish may never come true, yet we make it anyway—because we are hopeful.

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A painting of a pink ribbon with a wishbone, set against a dark blue background with a textured border.

hanging on

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2014, 🔴 SOLD

Painting of two wishbones on a dark background with a pink ribbon tied around one end.

balanced approach

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2014, 🔴 SOLD

Painting of pink ribbon with a wishbone, set against a dark background.

one chance

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2014, 🔴 SOLD

When I began suspending wishbones with ribbon and string, they were freed from the surface beneath them, much like the wishes we release into the world. They became touchstones.

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A painting of two wishbones a pink ribbon against a dark background.

at the edge

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2014, 🔴 SOLD

A still life painting of three carefully balanced wishbones with a pink ribbon tied to one bone, against a dark background.

stacking the odds

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2014, 🔴 SOLD

Person painting a wishbone on a panel using a fine brush.

Like skulls, wishbones invite quiet observation—not only of the object itself, but of ourselves. An opportunity to reach into the depths of our subconscious and discover what we truly want most. To find clarity within the chaos of our thoughts.

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A painting of a pink rose with drooping petals, attached to two brown sticks tied with purple and white ribbons, with a green leaf beneath the flower.

the fragility of flowers

14×18 inch oil on panel, 2015, 🔴 SOLD

Our vulnerabilities make us beautiful. Our ability to remain hopeful, makes us human.

A secondary actor, the wishbone suspended from white ribbon is a surrender, a white flag thrown up to acknowledge the desire for acceptance in the face of disappointment and rejection.

A small painting on a wooden easel depicts a minimalist, textured depiction of two wishbones on a gray and white abstract background. The easel is placed on a granite countertop, with a shelf of books behind it.

I created these small paintings for intimate spaces—places you'll pass every day. Each passing becomes an opportunity to pause and reflect.

Need direction? Make a wish.

Need confidence? Make a wish.

Need clarity?

Make a wish.

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A still life painting of a wishbone resting on a reflective surface that reflects the wishbone and forms a continual link between the wishbone and it's reflection.

wishbone

3×3 inch oil on mini canvas panel, 2014,
🔴 SOLD

A small wishbone suspended from a cotton thread on textured brown background.

bone study

3×3 inch oil on mini canvas panel, 2015,
🔴 SOLD

A human skull, an artist cat mannequin, a replica skeletal forearm and hand, a glass jar filled with wishbones, and dried flowers arranged on a wooden shelf with a textured painting of eggshells in the background.

I'm often asked whether I'll add more paintings to this series.

A jar of wishbones sits quietly on the shelf, waiting.

I don't have an answer.

But I'm hopeful.

A minimalist painting of a wishbone hanging from a string on a textured gray and orange background.

make a wish

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2017, 🔴 SOLD

A painting two wishbones tied together and hanging from a white string on a textures gray background.

we all need back up

7×5 inch oil on panel, 2017, 🔴 SOLD

Abstract painting turkey wishbone, turned up, with a string tied to each bone and indicating tension extending off frame.. Signature in the bottom right corner.

for love

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2017, 🔴 SOLD

Painting of two egg shells with a wishbone, on a textured blue and orange background.
Art studio workspace with a side by side comparison of a wishbone and the painting of it, taped to a wooden work surface with various art supplies, including brushes and paints, and an overall cluttered environment.
A small, square, painted panel depicting two eggshells and a wishbone on a textured surface. The artwork is placed on a soft, brown fabric, surrounded by cracked eggshells and a wishbone.
Five small colorful canvas panels with monochromatic paintings of wishbones on tiny easels, arranged on a wooden surface against a stone wall.

monochromatic wishbone studies in pinks, grays, greens, blues, and violets

3×3 inch oil on mini canvas panels, 2017, 🔴 SOLD

A hand holding a small canvas panel with a painting of a wishbone in shades of gray and black, against a gray background with reddish-orange accents.
A hand holding a small, painted canvas with a pink background and a wishbone.
Close-up of a small painted canvas with a green monochromatic painting of a wishbone, held in someone's hand over a beige carpet.
A painting of two wishbones suspended from a white ribbon with a pink background with shadows.

if at first i don’t succeed

7×5 inch oil on panel, 2018, 🔴 SOLD

A turkey wishbone hanging from a white ribbon on a pink textured background with orange accents.

i wish i may, i wish i might

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2018, 🔴 SOLD

An abstract painting of two wishbones tied together with string, reflecting on a light gray background with pink splatters.

it’s complicated

7×5 inch oil on panel, 2018, 🔴 SOLD

Close-up black and white photo of scattered wishbones on a wooden surface.
Person holding a framed painting of two linked wishbones tied with string on a gray background.
Close-up of a painting depicting a wishbone with a string on a textured gray background with orange accents.

we hold our wishes close

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2018, 🔴 SOLD

A painting of a wishbone on a textured blue background with rust-colored accents.

doubling the odds

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2018, 🔴 SOLD

Painting of a turkey wishbone hanging from a white string on a textured gray background with orange peeking through.

no one ever said it was easy

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2018, 🔴 SOLD

An artist's workspace with paint samples, color swatches, mixed media, and a small artwork with a wishbone.
Person holding a painting of broken eggshells and a wishbone on a blue background.
A painting of broken eggshells on a textured blue-gray surface with orange and brown accents.

shell game

8×16 inch oil on panel, 2019, NFS

An artist's workspace with paint, brushes, and tools on a cluttered table, featuring a small oil painting of a wishbone on a light background.
A close-up painting of a wishbone suspended by a green ribbon and a brown, tan, and black feather against a yellow background.
Hand holding a small painting of a wishbone suspended by a green ribbon and a brown, tan, and black feather against a yellow background.
A still life painting featuring broken eggshells and a wishbone.

be open to the unexpected

6×6 inch oil on panel, 2019, 🔴 SOLD

A realistic painting with a wishbone hanging from a blue ribbon with pink splashes on a textured beige background.

there is nothing I want more

7×5 inch oil on panel, 2021, NFS

a small painting of a wishbone suspended by a green ribbon and a brown, tan, and black feather against a yellow background.

go for it

5×5 inch oil on panel, 2020, 🔴 SOLD

A painting of a cat skull depicted from above, with a soft, muted background featuring warm tones of orange and beige. The artist's signature appears in the bottom right corner.

SKULL & BONE PORTRAITS

An oil painting of three cosmos flowers, with a flying bee on the left and initials in the bottom right corner.

FLORAL PAINTINGS

A black and white drawing of a leopard skull, including large canines, mounted on a gray surface with a shadow cast behind it.

30 SKULLS IN 30 DAYS

An artistic painting showing a human skull with a pair of white socks in its mouth. The background is textured with dark colors and gold accents.

THE SKULL NARRATIVES