Art Commissions: Note from A Mother, JoAnn

JasmineWEB

Dear Becky,

I have written and rewritten this several times. Like I told you before I feel at a loss for the words. When you asked me if you could do a picture of Jasmine sometime I was thrilled. I didn’t know what to expect but figured it would be a picture of an infant which would have been great too but what you did draw personified her so much more which is exactly why I love it so much! Jasmine was stillborn 4 days before her due date. Even now, almost 14 years later this is a difficult reality to face. There is never a good time to lose a child. Each loss comes with its own unique challenges. One of the challenges when a baby is stillborn is a lack of memories to sustain you while you wait to finally meet your child in the next life. You are left wondering. Would she look like one of her sisters? Would her eyes stay brown or lighten up? What would her favorites be? Etc…. Without knowing any more than her first name Becky, you have captured her! I anticipate with great joy the day when I will see her romp through a beautiful field such as the one you painted. Thank you for giving me a peek into a glorious future! This was such a loving and thoughtful gift which I shall treasure forevermore!!! Again, I feel these words are inadequate but before I start over again I’m gonna send it off to you. Thank you Becky, I don’t feel deserving of such a beautiful thoughtful gift and I’m amazed that you did this for me! I truly cherish this painting!!!

Love,
JoAnn

Author Box 04
About the Artist

I am an advocate first, and an artist second. My paintings create visual comfort-- spaces where grief, hope, and healing can live together without apology...

I paint what matters most: the people you cherish, the moments that shaped you, the feelings that need witness. Through art, your most precious memories move outside of you and into your home, where they can be held, seen, and never forgotten.

My work is rooted in three commitments: honoring the experiences of indigenous communities and the history of the land we inhabit; creating safe space for children and women whose voices have been silenced; and recording the honest truth of lived experience-- both my own and that of those who came before me. I believe art has the power to tell stories that words alone cannot, and to preserve what must not be lost or forgotten. I believe that all that we know about ourselves is because Art has preserved those stories throughout history, outliving those who created it.

When you encounter my work, I hope you find yourself in it-- not as escape, but as recognition. I hope it reminds you that your feelings matter, that your story deserves to be held, and that compassion and truth are still worth carrying forward.

Art is the voice that speaks honestly through the heart. 💝🪷