"Care For What Counts On You" (fine art print from the "Maxims" series)

ABOUT THIS LISTING
This is an unframed archival fine art print on Moab's Natural Rag paper. The print measures roughly 9x11.4 inches and comes with a printed and signed certificate of authenticity. 

(Please note that only the first listing photo shows the print. The other photos show the original watercolor painting and embellished gouache mat. The print is derived from a high-resolution scan of the painting shown in the listing photos, including the border design on the mat.)

This piece is one of ten intricate watercolor paintings Bryana created in 2025 for a series of illustrated proverbs called "Maxims." This series was created as part of the Tales From The Mandalina Tree, and exists thanks to the support of Bryana's subscribers over on Patreon.

ABOUT THIS PAINTING
It’s something I’m thinking about every single day this year: the urgent need for dogged persistence in generous living. I know I am not unlike millions of us when I say the world in 2025 scares me half to death. The boisterous cold-heartedness that has suddenly been embraced by our national leadership here in the US makes me sometimes physically ill. My mind reels at the speedy collapse of long-established moral codes that once defended vulnerable groups like children, elderly, and the disabled. In a matter of months, 20th-century atrocities that once felt securely-situated in the past have come to feel like undead specters stalking our streets and wailing loud cries of warning. It is hard, hard to know how to live well in 2025. 

But I know this: whatever happens, I must not allow the times to hijack my ethical center or crush the empathy that keeps me human. And I strongly believe this: if we will all commit to nourish our empathy come what may, this aggressive push to make our country less kind, less honest, and less wise will not ultimately prevail.

In this painting, I entirely leaned in to my love of vegetable gardening to make a surreal maze of expectant anthropomorphic garden creatures awaiting the ministrations of a watering can and company. From yardlong beans to bok choy to microgreens to cucumbers, all but two of the vegetables featured in this painting are things I actually grew in my own tiny vegetable garden this year—watered exclusively by hand with a watering can since my small urban rowhome has no outdoor water hook-up. I spent weeks painting this, had a great deal of fun with it, and hope it can serve as a light-hearted reminder to cling to kindness in our own spheres and so do our bit to keep the world from growing cruel.

SHIPPING INFORMATION
Shipping is free within the United States for orders of at least $50, and international shipping options are available at checkout.

© 2026 Bryana Joy
The artist retains all copyrights.