For the last four springs, I have painted a still life featuring chocolate Easter bunnies. When I did my set up the second week in March 2020, COVID-19 had burst on the news in the US. I decided to make tiny little masks for my bunnies to wear for the still life. My painting studio is located in the home of my husband's parents. My mother-in-law had been a huge fan of my desire to learn to paint and had purchased a home with a north-light studio with me in mind. She was thrilled with the set up for the 2020 chocolate bunny painting.

Shortly after I finished the painting, my mother-in-law fell ill. After a week in bed, I felt we needed to take her to the local emergency room. She had pneumonia and a critically low oxygen level and would have to be admitted. It was the last time I saw her in person. Within three days we had the news that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and was being flown to a hospital with an appropriate ICU. Her husband also tested positive, but thankfully did not become ill. My husband and I isolated with him for the next three weeks. She was on a ventilator for three weeks and then passed away.

"Love In A Time Of Coronavirus" is her painting.