Cardinals by Danny Schwartz

Title:	Cardinals
Date Created:	July 2020
Copyright:	© Danny Schwartz
Genre:	Fantasy
Mediums:	Acrylic
Views:	358
Posted:	12/8/2020

Projects: assorted sets for Magic: The Gathering, Orbit' s " Sword of Destiny Illustrated Edition" , Wyrmwood' s " Corrupted Tarot" , Gallery Nucleus' s " SALUT" , various WOW x WOW shows from 2019 onwards, a regular slot on Every Day Original. For character design, Showtime' s " Our Cartoon President" , Hulu and Frank Oz' s " In and Of Itself" , Starz' s " With Drawn Arms" , and Comedy Central' s upcoming " Washingtonia" .

Location: Brooklyn, NY

For a time when I was small, my favorite toy was a small plastic cardinal. I loved his bright red color and how if you shook him a little, he made a happy tweeting noise. I took him everywhere I went — we were inseparable in the way that small children are with their favorite toys. But then I lost him. I have no idea what happened to him. He was there one day and then he was just gone. My folks and I looked for years with no luck. Our Hail Mary was my mother’s insistence that when we moved away from my childhood home, he’d be sure to turn up — but when I was about 12 and we did pack up and move on, we still couldn’t find him. He’s lost to the ages now, and, you know, as a grown adult person, I am long beyond the need for a small plastic bird toy. But to this day, somewhat absurdly, whenever I see a cardinal I can’t help but feel a twinge of sadness.