Family Hands

The beginning of the year is a bit emotional for me, because those close to my heart have passed away (what is it with the beginning of the year where it seems most people pass away?). I was thinking of my brother and a random thought passed my mind… I can’t remember what his hands look like. :'(  Oh, and I just cried – the details were fading away! 

I didn’t realize how much those details meant to me. How significant hands were… it was those hands that I held on to as a little girl, my hand wrapped around his finger…. those hands that tossed me up into the air & safely caught me…When I was scared or sad, those hands wrapped around me and held me tight… those hands taught me to walk around the apple tree, cooked delicious treats for me and showed me how to ride a bike. They took me by the hand on a sibling date and showed me how men should respect me – we had so much fun together! 

I didn’t want to waste any more time, I wanted to sketch the hands of those who mean so much to me. I had my Mom and Dad rest their hands on the table as a reference and I sketched the details of those hands who did so much for me in my life. They taught me valuable lessons of how to be independent and self-reliant, to believe in yourself – anything is possible! They cared for me, comforted me, protected me; showed me how to forgive others quickly and showed me how to love others perfectly. I don’t ever want to forget these hands.

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. 💝🪷