Looking Up - the inspirational art piece I've kept to myself for a little while and how it's helped me heal
There are some art pieces I choose to keep to myself.
For a long time, this was one of them.
Some of my most emotional pieces are ones I hold close to my heart. Sometimes it's because they are truly just for me. Other times it's because they don't quite match the "vibe" I'm known for.
But art isn't confined to a brand. Despite what people may say.
Most artists cannot be contained to one style, one medium, one expression.
We are souls that long to emote - to connect.
About the "Looking Up" art piece
This piece was created to evoke emotions and inner strength. The woman's face is tilted upward toward the light with an abstract floral background representing the blossoming of her inner strength and most resilient self.
This abstract piece is painted in acrylics using brushes and palette knives.
It comes mounted on a wooden frame and is ready for hanging or sitting on a ledge.
Professional framing is recommended.
Inscribed poem:
"And through the dark,
she saw the light
that drew her past
her darkest night.
Her heart would last -
survive the fight
and thrive inside
on wings at flight.
The truth of all she knew was right
would swallow up the doubt
to ignite
a passion - a fire - a long-held desire
to burn down and waste
what she had created
make space
for a place
long anticipated.
Her turn, her chance to learn
to dance
to open a heart
she kept closed and gated.
A glance
around
and soon she found
she'd made it.
She won't just survive.
She knows she must thrive
while she is alive.
Life is too short
not to enjoy the ride.
So she will glide.
She will fly up high
and touch the sky.
She will sing.
She will dance.
She is taking this chance.
before saying goodbye."
A fun little art piece I almost didn't keep
From the subject matter to the way to makes me feel when I see it to the way it came into the world, this piece is special to me.
It started as a painted of a white flower on an abstract purple background. A play at light and shadow as I learned new painting techniques in my early twenties. I hung it on the wall in my first apartment among the many paintings I'd created in that time. And that was it. It just hung there.
As life went on, it found its way into the dusty corners of basements. It wasn't one of my favourites, so it was never hung again. New things came to take its place. And that was perfectly fine with me. I once tried to throw it away but my husband encouraged me to save it. I'm glad he did.
How this piece evolved into something new; something healing
As I'm sure many of us can say, life hasn't always been easy. It was at a very particular turning point in my own life that I finally pulled this piece out and took a good look at it. Still just a white flower on a purple background, I felt it beg to be more.
I had just gotten new tattoos on my hands so holding a paint brush wasn't easy. I needed to be creative. What better time to try new techniques?
(Foreshadowing on my state of mind - The tattoos say "Let go" and "Hold on")
Palette knife in hand, I spread yellows and blues over the original painting, letting some of it shine through. I began to etch my face onto the surface in reflections of the purple, yellow, white, and blue that had already made their way to the canvas.
I angled my face upward because I am determined to keep looking up.
No matter how difficult life gets. No matter how hard it becomes to live with hEDS. No matter the trials and struggles and difficulties I'll face. No matter the loss. No matter the heartache. No matter the anger, frustration, and pain - I will keep looking up. And I will do that by allowing myself to let go of what does not serve me, and hold onto what matters most.
Perhaps there will be more in this collection, soon.
