29th April

2026 Ekphrastic Challenge: Painting + Poetry

Hello, I’m Molly Ovenden. I am a contemplative poet and painter—for April 2026, I have the privilege of being part of The Wombwell Rainbow’s Ekphrastic Challenge online exhibition for art and writing.

Every day in April I’ll be sharing one of my paintings and its accompanying poem I’ve written right here where you are reading in the form of a daily blog post.

This piece of collage artwork is called, “29 April.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the wider challenge and exhibition with Wombwell, you can do so here: https://thewombwellrainbow.wordpress.com

If you are interested in purchasing one of my paintings or would like to find out more about my work, you can do so here: https://mollyovenden.com/art

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“29 April” a poem to accompany the painting, by Molly Ovenden

Honeyed buds invite
hidden swirls of nectared life:
Spring’s eruption yells, “HELLO!”
wafting fragrant green,
breeze as her bellows…

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To write these poems, I’ve taken inspiration from both the painting I’ve shared above, but also by looking back at photographs I took in April last year.

Here’s a photo I took on 29 April last year of vibrant purple-pink lilacs bursting in bloom in the direct, bright sunlight. They smelled really good, too. I wish there was olfactory options through the screen.

If you’re enjoying these regular installments of “New Light, Returning Daily” that I’ve created, please subscribe so you’ll be sure to meet the next one.

What has today’s painting or poem brought to light for you? I’d love to know your thoughts. If you share a comment, that makes this place more of a conversation space, which is rather nice.

Here’s a gallery view of some of the pieces from my April 2026 collection, “New Light, Returning Daily.”

Know someone who might enjoy my artwork and poetry from “New Light, Returning Daily”? Please share this post with anyone you believe might be inspired by it.

I hope you’ve found it enlightening in some way. Let us return again later for a new light shed on our lives.

Thank you so much for spending a moment with me today to connect through art and poetry.

Until tomorrow…