Watching for Ducks
Rebecca McKelvie
Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas
12 × 12 inches
Watching for Ducks captures a quiet, intimate moment drawn from the artist’s everyday life. The painting shows the back of McKelvie’s young daughter in a blue dress, standing at the edge of a pond and looking toward a small bridge reflected in the water. The scene was inspired by repeated walks to this spot—her daughter’s favourite place to visit while searching for ducks along the pond’s edge.
Executed in acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, the work balances personal narrative with a universal sense of calm. The figure provides a gentle focal point, while surrounding foliage, trees, and open blue sky create a peaceful setting. The reflection of the bridge in the pond introduces visual symmetry and reinforces the stillness of the moment.
Watching for Ducks is a meditation on childhood curiosity and the beauty of slowing down to observe the natural world. Though rooted in a specific family memory, the painting invites viewers to connect with their own experiences of wonder, presence, and quiet connection.
