Some pictures make you stop for a moment. Ohara Koson’s Sparrows on Snowy Berry Bush is one of them.
There are the bright red berries first, then the deep green leaves, each carrying a soft covering of snow. Look a little closer and the sparrows come into view, perched among the branches as white flakes drift around them. Against the gentle, pale background, every small detail feels worth noticing.
We chose this artwork for our Christmas edition because we kept coming back to it. Its colours feel wonderfully festive, while the birds bring warmth and character to the snowy scene. It is a lovely picture to live with through the winter months.
A memory of snowy days in Japan
For me, Libby, this artwork brings back memories of winter in Japan.
I never spent Christmas there, but I remember snowy days and the pleasure of discovering somewhere so full of beauty. I loved the celebrations and festivals, the sense of community, the extraordinary food and the evenings when there was always somewhere else to explore.
The art remains a particularly treasured part of those memories. Looking at Koson’s sparrows brings a little of that feeling back: the pleasure of pausing to appreciate something carefully made.
Alice and I first met at university in Sheffield in 1996, and we met up again in Japan in 2001. Choosing Japanese artwork for our mail club feels like a lovely way to share part of that story with you.
Finding colour in winter
There is so much colour in this small scene. The berries stand out against the snow, the green branches lead your eye across the picture, and the sparrows’ brown feathers soften the winter palette.
It makes us think about what there is to notice outdoors at this time of year. Even on a grey day, there might be berries in a hedge, glossy evergreen leaves or a bird moving between bare branches.
If you’re heading out for a Christmas walk, take a few moments to look for those details. Bring a flask, invite a friend and leave a little time for wandering. You could photograph a favourite tree, watch the birds or find a view you’d like to sketch when you get home.
And if your December is warm, there will be other things to discover: flowers, unfamiliar birds, shifting light. The pleasure is in giving yourself time to look.
Art to keep, post to share
One of our favourite things about choosing artwork for the club is imagining where it will end up.
Perhaps a print will sit beside someone’s desk, become part of a picture shelf or find a frame in a cosy corner. A postcard might travel on to a friend, with a few handwritten lines on the back.
We love that an artwork can become part of everyday life in this way. You don’t need a large collection or a perfectly arranged room. Sometimes one picture, chosen because it makes you happy, is enough.
Inside our Christmas edition
Koson’s sparrows join a snowy Japanese temple scene by Kawase Hasui and a beautiful holly illustration by Pierre-Joseph Redouté in Edition Five of Libby & Alice’s Mail Club.
Together, they celebrate the winter details we love: falling snow, evergreen leaves, bright berries and the companionship of small birds.
Our Christmas edition posts on 28 November, bringing art, stationery and a personal letter through your letterbox. We hope you’ll put the kettle on, settle somewhere comfortable and enjoy discovering it.
Explore Edition Five and join us for a little winter beauty through the post.
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