Breathe Through It    

I began the year 2026 with my world in shambles. I was surrounded by death, pain, and so much fear. Even the world at large was running devastating news story after devastating news story. With pure chaos all around and pure chaos in my mind, I was desperate for a little stability and inner peace before I fell apart completely. I reached for my art, my place of refuge, and "Breathe Through It" was born. Her creation was a tumultuous experience in and of itself, so I almost gave up on completing her several times. My own mind fought me the entire way. But she needed to exist, and I was determined to make it so. I used watercolor and salt to develop the nebula imagery, gold leaf to form the base of the suncatcher, and a meticulous watercolor layering technique to bring the woman to life. The woman herself was loosely based on several women in my past who represented strength to me. When I placed my final brushstrokes (sprinkling the sky with gouache to create stars), I was able to breathe a sigh of relief and find my moment of peace.

“Breathe Through It” was donated to Golden Girl Inc., a startup nonprofit in Suffolk, VA.