Sometimes, in the face of stormy emotions or events, I can only hope to persevere. For me, perseverance stems from rest, self-care, focusing on gratitude, and staying connected to the bits of positivity that each day holds. No matter how gloomy the day, those glitters of hope are present if I remain open to them. I created this study as part of a more extensive work to express this idea in more detail. The study depicts my heart, threatened by…
I created this canvas on the third Valentine’s Day after my husband’s death. I called it Empty Heart, though I hoped to imply that the emptiness might someday be filled again. Over time, I have learned that this hope is not just about finding another partner but about discovering who I am without one. I used beautiful hand-silk-screened Japanese Chiyogami paper to define the space surrounding the blank heart shape, cutting another flower shape from a different Chiyogami paper that…
Inner peace can be hard to come by, no matter what loss we grieve. Looking at the stars helps me put things into perspective and takes me outside my small emotional orbit. There is something expansive about stargazing. I find comfort in the quiet nighttime sky, under the gaze of familiar and timeless constellations. Before working in mixed media, colored pencils were one of my primary mediums. There is a meditative quality to layering the colors to obtain the correct…
It may seem premature, but dreaming of spring can be uplifting. When I was deep in my grief, it comforted me to believe—despite the lack of evidence—that things would eventually improve. I know it’s true that even on a cold, windy, and ice-crusted day, the warmth of spring will eventually arrive. Much of my healing relied on faith and hope for better days. This belief acted as a lifeline in the turbulent waters of despair. Even now, I realize that…