“Love in Bloom,” Mary Vickers (b. 1940), ca. 1970s, original carbon drawing on paper, 26 x 20 inches, signed lower right; preparatory artwork for a limited-edition lithograph series of 200.

This exquisite 26 x 20 inch carbon drawing by celebrated figurative artist Mary Vickers is the original master artworkfor her beloved lithograph edition “Love in Bloom.” Vickers’ signature tenderness, emotional clarity, and softly modeled pencil technique are on full display as two children share a moment of innocent affection—capturing the warmth, nostalgia, and emotional realism that define her most sought-after works. Signed lower right, this rare studio drawing is ideal for collectors of sentimental realism, children’s portraiture, and original works associated with published print editions.

Artwork Description

“Love in Bloom” is a finely rendered carbon drawing executed with Mary Vickers’ characteristic blend of romantic realism, narrative charm, and technical precision. The scene depicts a young boy offering a small bouquet to a shy young girl, who lowers her gaze as she accepts the flowers. Their interaction—imbued with sincerity and innocence—is set against a softly sketched floral environment filled with potted plants and hanging baskets, reinforcing the theme of blossoming affection.

Vickers works in tightly layered, yet delicate graphite strokes, creating soft transitions of light and shadow that emphasize the roundness of children’s faces and the gentle textures of clothing and foliage. Her hand remains visible in free, swirling pencil marks that animate the background without distracting from the central figures.

The handwritten signature “Vickers” appears lower right. As confirmed through the artist’s print history, this drawing served as the original art for the lithograph edition of 200, making it a significant and collectible example of Vickers’ printmaking process.
This intimate, beautifully composed drawing embodies Vickers’ dedication to illustrating human tenderness, familial affection, and the fleeting poetry of childhood.

Biography of Mary Vickers

Mary Vickers (born 1940, Birmingham, England) is a British-American figurative artist best known for her sentimental realism, tender representations of children, and highly collectible limited-edition prints of the 1970s–1990s. Raised in post-war England, Vickers demonstrated artistic aptitude early and pursued formal studies in drawing and illustration, refining her delicate graphite technique and her ability to capture subtle emotional gestures.

Vickers emigrated to the United States as a young adult, establishing her artistic career at a moment when narrative portraiture and nostalgic domestic imagery were deeply popular in both commercial and fine art markets. She became associated with several American publishing houses that specialized in fine-art lithographs, creating original graphite drawings—such as “Love in Bloom”—that were reproduced in limited editions and sold through galleries nationwide.

Her influences include Victorian genre painting, British illustrators of the Golden Age, and modern realist draftsmanship, all of which informed her emphasis on innocence, memory, and the poetic beauty of everyday life.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Vickers exhibited in galleries across the United States and the UK, and her prints were distributed internationally. Her works became staples of family-centered collecting circles and regional galleries, often purchased to commemorate childhood milestones, relationships, and special occasions. Today, her original drawings—much rarer than her prints—are increasingly sought after by collectors of nostalgic realism and by those who appreciate her meticulous hand-drawn technique.

Mary Vickers (b. 1940), “Love in Bloom,” carbon drawing on paper, 26 x 20 in., signed lower right. Original master drawing for the lithograph edition of 200. Provenance: acquired NYC; Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.

CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Mary Vickers (b. 1940)
Title: “Love in Bloom”
Medium: Carbon drawing on paper
Dimensions: 26 x 20 inches
Date: ca. 1970s
Signature: Signed “Vickers” lower right
Notes: Original drawing used to produce a limited-edition lithograph series of 200
Provenance: Acquired in New York City; Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC

This certificate confirms that the artwork described above is an authenticated original drawing by Mary Vickers, consistent with her known technique, signature, and documented print production practices. Issued for appraisal, insurance, and gallery documentation.

Provenance

Published by Mitch Morse Gallery (exclusive publisher of Mary Vickers).
Acquired directly from Mitch Morse Gallery.
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.