The ear, or rather the portrait, is encircled by a frame of greenery, which utilizes the historical significance of wreaths and the symbolism of the plant to inform the viewer of the narrative content. In ancient Greece & Rome, members of society would wear ring-shaped “wreaths” using fresh tree leaves, twigs, small fruits and flowers as headdresses. This was done to represent one’s occupation, rank, achievements, and status in society. In the case of my paintings, the symbology of the specific flower or leaf is used in combination with the wreath to explain who the figure is and the state of their psychology. In the end, what one might perceive as a strange combination of overlooked form and decorative element, suddenly becomes a portrait of, in the case of a forthysia wreath, a portrait of my mother surrounded by the bright yellow flowering bush that bloomed every spring at my childhood home. Because of its welcomed yellow color after a long cold winter, forsythia symbolizes anticipation and warmth. With this combination of meaning and portraiture, I aim to tell the story of the stable and predictable nature of my maternal figure and the bright warmth she provided as I awaited adulthood.