Message from the Artist: In October, an American Robin died in my hands. I was at work in my studio when I heard a terrific crash on my upper entry window. I found him on the sidewalk, knelt down and scooped him up. His fellows were going crazy in the tree above us.

Using my thumb to stroke his head, I told him he was going to be okay, over and over. But mostly said to him “I’m sorry”, over and over. I promised to keep my entry way light turned on. I said, “you just need a moment, you are going to be okay, just breathe, just take a moment…” and he sat, and his heart was steady, and he was just chilling. Looking at me. His beak started opening and closing a bit, just barely, and for a second I thought he might recover suddenly and bite me.

I still held him and kept talking. “you just let me know when you are ready to fly, and I’ll let you go…”. Keeping him warm and comfortable and giving him gentle sounds felt very important. Then, his heart revved up a bit, he made some louder breathing sounds, and he seemed to surge a bit. I said “you ARE going to be okay!!!” But alas, no.

What I’d heard were life’s last attempts to hold on, his final breaths. I held him while his heart stopped, his eyelids softened, his head looked smaller, his body relaxed. I kept stroking his body, saying “I’m so sorry… I really thought you were going to be okay…”. I held him for about five more minutes, still talking to him and stroking his feathers. Feeling befuddled as to what to do. Wanting to think he could rev again.

No one was around. Just me, with my hands cupped gently around a big dead bird, his head on a broken neck, resting on my fingers. The other birds had vanished. I’ve thought of him many times since then. And when I started the Wild Tenderness Collection, I knew a piece would be to represent him. And here he is, not really a Robin but a creative interpretation of a Robin-ish friend. He is guarding eggs, and he is guarding a little girl.

She is helping him with the eggs. Little girls love to help with the younger ones.

A print from the Wild Tenderness Collection.

Looking for something a little different? Choose an Embellished Print to personalize eye color and/or hair color accents or Contact Katie if you can't find what you are looking for. See more details below.

In the CHOOSE PRINT SIZE box above, select:

~a Hand-Embellished & Signed Art Print (not available with all images)
~a Signed Art Print on Paper
~or a Stretched Canvas Art Print

All prints are created from original Katie m. Berggren paintings. Learn more about types of prints below.

Types of Art Prints:

Your Art Print will be created onto premium-quality heavyweight paper with an 8-ink process for vibrant, fade-proof color that illuminates YOUR space. Your smooth matte Archival Print will be hand-signed and carefully packaged for safe travels into your hands. I use archival materials so your ready-to-frame artwork will have 100+ beautiful years to inspire tender memories and touch hearts. Even when mom says she doesn't want anything, she may yearn for recognition of her motherhood journey.

Prints 12x12 or smaller are bagged to ship in a sturdy mailer, the title of the Art Print is written on the backing board. Most Art Prints have a small 1/8-inch border and fit standard frames. THICK MARGIN and EMBELLISHED Prints have 3/4-inch borders.

 ••Hand-Embellished and Signed Art Prints••

A 12x12 Thick Margin Print is hand-accented with paint for brush-stroke texture. I take your print to my clean work table and add an artist’s touch to make your embellished Art Print one-of-a-kind and collectible. I autograph the front and sign and date the back of your Embellished print. Your print is then packaged in an acid free bag with a backing board, and gift wrapped before shipping in a sturdy mailer.

An Embellished Print allows for eye color changes, or color accents added to hair. I can darken or lighten hair, or add some facial hair, all with paint. I can even add names or dates, written with fine marker. Provide notes at check-out if you'd like your Embellished Print personalized with eye or hair color adjustments.

Allow 1 day before shipping, for creation and drying time.

SEE SAMPLES OF EMBELLISHED PRINTS