Catch You When You Fall

I do most of my paintings for others, in this case I decided to paint something for myself. I have been missing my brother a great deal this Holiday season. He passed away earlier this year in January. I’ve had a few people pass away in my life before, but no one as close to or as dear to me as he was.

In February, I placed his ashes in the Ocean at private beach tucked away in one of my favorite locations. He and I had a favorite picture of the two of us. The image came to mind of what I’d like to see / or imagine how he’d appear if he were to really be at that beach when I visit ‘him’ there. This is what I came up with:

Reference image (taken from two pictures pieced together):

Here is a song I recently came across that brings him to mind whenever I listen to it. It was one of the songs I listened to as I painted this:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le34ygtODfI]

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. 💝🪷