illustration
A painting nearly 3 years in the making. I can see the flaws with this, but, this work is emotionally symbolic for me and I wanted to share it regardless.
%I utilize symbolism through expressions, elements, animals, colors and so much more to share the landscape inside of my mind and body. How emotions rip through me. There's pieces of me in everything I make, in everything I create. If you feel consolation or connection to my artwork, if it makes you feel seen - that makes me happy.
This represents a reclaiming of my destiny, and my voice - after silencing myself and betraying my values for many years seeking something outside of myself that was within the entire time.%
%It's representing of the sacrifice and transformation I have been relentlessly experiencing for three years - having gone through a cancer diagnosis / suffering from chronic OCD that ran my life for nearly a decade. %
%But I don't want my life to be entirely defined by pain and mistakes anymore.
I began this painting in December of 24', when I still wasn't fully clear on the person I wanted to become or where my values lie. As many of my pieces begin as studies - this one was no less than that. I combed through Pinterest for reference photos of Borzoi dogs, and a gorgeous painting as the initial inspiration. I spent many hours with a set of new digital brushes trying to match the strokes of fur in the painting I had been studying. Then, it transformed into a conductor for the fire that's been burning a hole through my chest for years and years and years, until now.%