Description

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Winter’s Kiss Cardinal Bronze Sculpture by Mark Hopkins

By Mark Hopkins | Little Birdies Collection

There’s a quiet magic in the very first cold morning of winter — when the air sparkles, the world slows, and color feels even more precious. Winter’s Kiss captures that fleeting moment through the bright, joyful presence of a cardinal greeting the season without hesitation.

Sculpted by celebrated wildlife artist Mark Hopkins, this enchanting bronze brings warmth to winter. The cardinal’s confident posture and finely detailed feathers convey both resilience and cheer, a reminder that beauty doesn’t retreat when the seasons change — it shines.

Every curve and contour is thoughtfully modeled, from the gentle arch of the bird’s body to the subtle textures of its plumage. Cast in solid bronze and finished by hand, the sculpture glows with a rich patina that enhances depth, movement, and personality. Though modest in size, Winter’s Kiss makes a powerful impression, inviting closer inspection and quiet admiration.

Part of the beloved Little Birdies Collection, this piece celebrates the small, meaningful moments in nature that often stay with us the longest. Cardinals are cherished symbols of hope, warmth, and remembrance, making this sculpture not only visually striking, but emotionally resonant as well.

Perfect for a mantel, shelf, or desk, Winter’s Kiss feels at home anywhere you want a touch of comfort and seasonal charm — whether displayed during winter months or enjoyed year-round as a symbol of enduring joy.

Product Highlights

• Hand-sculpted by renowned wildlife artist Mark Hopkins

• Cast in solid bronze using traditional lost-wax techniques

• Hand-applied patina for warmth and depth

• Part of the collectible Little Birdies Collection

• A meaningful symbol of hope, resilience, and beauty

Details

• Dimensions: 6.5″ H x 6″ W x 4″ D

• Medium: Bronze

• Release Year: 2022

• Display: Freestanding tabletop sculpture

A timeless work of art and a heartfelt gift, Winter’s Kiss brings the brilliance of nature’s quiet moments into your home — where even the coldest season feels warm.

About Mark Hopkins

Mark Hopkins takes his inspiration for every facet of life on Earth, from the majesty of wildlife to mankind’s interaction with nature and produces limited-edition pieces that evoke a sense of awe and respect for the mysteries and loveliness of the world around us. Collectors of his work include Barbara Mandrell, Clint Eastwood, Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, George and Barbara Bush and a host of other luminaries and corporations including the National League Association of Baseball Club Owners, the Atlanta National Golf Club, Humana, Coca-Cola and others. Each Mark Hopkins sculpture is crafted with pride in the USA.

Captivated by form and design, Mark has personally created a signature style of vibrant vitality resulting from decades of study. Encouraged by parents and teachers from an early age, Mark’s unique talent developed alongside his technical skills of sculpting and casting. As an artist, Mark is constantly challenging himself to render the rich beauty of life and the deep emotion of the human soul into flowing sculptural form, noting “I strive to express beyond the image, to catch spirit, to reveal deeper emotions, and to share joy.”

About the Production Process

From the artist’s hand to the final polishing stages, many intricate steps go into the creation of a limited-edition bronze sculpture. First the reproduction mold is made in which layers of silicone rubber and plaster are delicately applied to the original work. Then hot wax is poured into the reproduction mold to form an exact replica of the original sculpture.

When the wax replica is removed from the mold, it is then inspected and refined or “chased” by hand to remove any imperfections that may have occurred in the reproduction process. Next, ceramic cup and wax sprues, or gates, are added which later will help channel the molten bronze into the shell to create the sculpture.

The next step is creating the ceramic shell by alternately dipping the wax replica over a period of several days into a vat of liquid slurry, then a vat of silica crystals. The shell is then set to dry, and the process repeats until the shell has reached the appropriate thickness and strength.

The finished shell is placed in a high temperature oven that melts and removes the wax (the traditional “lost wax” method). The hardened or “fired” shell is secured, so the molten bronze can now be poured into the wax impression.