a story

love

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​Art is extremely personal. This is why parting with my work can be very difficult and even emotional. I’ve often described it as selling pages from my journal. This attitude started changing a few years back when I was visiting The Art Institute of Chicago. There I had the privilege of viewing some of Édouard Manet’s portrait paintings that have inspired me and influenced my work for years with their symbolic story telling. This brought me to a realization. Manet died in 1883 yet his stories and legacy lives on through his art that inspires so many. Will my work have a legacy? Would this ever happen if I cannot let go of it or share my stories?

​ sold my painting ‘love’ last week. It was hard. She is a glinting jewel born in the darkness. ‘love’ is a story about abuse and isolation. Her hollow, though piecing, dark eye looks back and up looking for help. Her body keeps the safety of a shielded posture. This symbolizes that she is trying to ask for help but she is still vulnerable and afraid. Her ghostly body blends into the background while the few solid parts of her pixelate as if she is either falling apart or coming together. Time will tell. The unknown is all she has left. Her shadow is missing as if she is floating without an anchor or perhaps she is disappearing. She needs the strength of others but she is alone.​

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I wish we lived in a world where people never felt afraid or alone. It's something we should work towards. If someone is hurting you, DO NOT BE SILENT! If you feel you know someone who is experiencing abuse, DO NOT BE SILENT! Love betrayed can only be healed with love. We should look out for each other. We need to keep ourselves in check so we don't become part of the problem.

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​I no longer see my creations as only journal pages meant to be kept under lock and key. They are also my children, parts of me that are not mine to keep.
Do my stories matter?
Will I leave a legacy?
I hope so and attempt to create with love.

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