Please welcome the next 4×4 painting in my 2026 collection. This little piece will be living at The Maker’s Mall in Veneta, Oregon, until it finds its forever home.

For this painting, I returned to the forest path I love so dearly. There’s something about that winding trail that keeps calling me back. I brought along the familiar wishing well and, this time, added a hidden spiral portal tucked among the trees. While these elements may feel like they belong in a fairytale, I truly believe our Oregon forests hold a quiet magic of their own — the kind that gently eases the stress of everyday life.

The spiral portal represents change and growth. It’s an invitation to step forward, even when the path feels mysterious. The small child walking the trail is a reminder to hold tightly to the wonder of our inner child — to stay curious, open, and willing to believe in something just beyond what we can see. And the cottontail rabbit has made another appearance. She was first spotted in Forest Bunny in 2025, and apparently she isn’t finished guiding us just yet.

This piece carries more detail than Forest Bunny, especially with the addition of the child. In fact, this is only the third time I’ve attempted a human figure. Each time feels like a quiet act of bravery. One day, I may even turn my characters around so we can see their faces. For now, I love the mystery of walking alongside them rather than looking directly at them.

I also added soft rays of sunlight filtering through the trees. They partially veil the portal, inviting you to pause and look twice. I enjoy that subtle concealment — it mirrors how magic often works in real life. It doesn’t shout. It whispers.

I’m certain I’ll wander this forest path again in another variation. Who knows what we might discover as we travel deeper into the trees?

This little painting is the third in a growing collection of locally inspired works I plan to share at The Maker’s Mall in the coming months. I’m excited to see where this path — both on canvas and in life — leads next.

I used a 4 by 4 inch stretched canvas, and Golden Heavy Body acrylic paint for this piece. ‘Mystical Forest’ an original acrylic painting by DVD © 2026.

Price: TBD at The Maker’s Mall, Veneta OR