My daughter, Claire, started this canvas and, without my knowing, used my phone to take the reference photo for it! Oh my gosh, that’s a CUTE, quick story— I’d seen it while perusing sources, and was deciding between using it or my own photo, and when I went to get Claire’s opinion of it, with the sweetest voice she goes, “I took one for you, Mama!” I just about died of love and cuteness, and there was no way I couldn’t go with her photo.
From there, I fully committed to everything that inspired me when I thought about Claire. She was stoked on the pinks and gold when laying down the first layer, so I leaned into those colors. She’s also a huge lover of rainbows, so naturally, the tree had to be a sort of rainbow tree.
Then I got stuck.
I felt an urge to finish this painting quickly, despite being stuck, so I went with the next right thing. (You with me, Frozen fans?) At the same time, outside of the studio, I was finding my self so inspired by a friend of mine, Prisca Shima. A woman who would never settle for being anything but 100% herself while also being so soft and honoring to all in every situation. She is vibrant, fashionable, speaks her mind, and holds strong to her convictions. I began to ask myself, “What would Prisca do?” I channeled the joy, the dancing, the exploration, the humor. I laughed, I smiled, I brought the rainbow-flower-leaves to life, not fully understanding them, but also not caring!
I felt so . . . myself.
In Frozen II, Elsa belts out Show Yourself while running head first into a deserted iceberg river thing, begging the voice that brought her there to show itself. When she gets there, she sees that the voice was her mom’s…. spirit? And then her mom joins in the song to reveal that Elsa is the one she’s been waiting for “all of my liiiiiiiiiiife.”
I see a similar story with me and Prisca in this painting— Prisca’s motherly spirit guiding me to show myself. No fear, just more of myself with love and respect to others.
The urgency to finish the piece was more than valid, as it ended up belonging to Prisca herself, and the day I delivered it was the last day of her stay in Monterey :’(
But it’s not goodbye. Just “see you later.”
And to you I say, go on! Show yourself <3
SHOW YOURSELF
30” x 40” Acrylic on canvas
My daughter, Claire, started this canvas and, without my knowing, used my phone to take the reference photo for it! Oh my gosh, that’s a CUTE, quick story— I’d seen it while perusing sources, and was deciding between using it or my own photo, and when I went to get Claire’s opinion of it, with the sweetest voice she goes, “I took one for you, Mama!” I just about died of love and cuteness, and there was no way I couldn’t go with her photo.
From there, I fully committed to everything that inspired me when I thought about Claire. She was stoked on the pinks and gold when laying down the first layer, so I leaned into those colors. She’s also a huge lover of rainbows, so naturally, the tree had to be a sort of rainbow tree.
Then I got stuck.
I felt an urge to finish this painting quickly, despite being stuck, so I went with the next right thing. (You with me, Frozen fans?) At the same time, outside of the studio, I was finding my self so inspired by a friend of mine, Prisca Shima. A woman who would never settle for being anything but 100% herself while also being so soft and honoring to all in every situation. She is vibrant, fashionable, speaks her mind, and holds strong to her convictions. I began to ask myself, “What would Prisca do?” I channeled the joy, the dancing, the exploration, the humor. I laughed, I smiled, I brought the rainbow-flower-leaves to life, not fully understanding them, but also not caring!
I felt so . . . myself.
In Frozen II, Elsa belts out Show Yourself while running head first into a deserted iceberg river thing, begging the voice that brought her there to show itself. When she gets there, she sees that the voice was her mom’s…. spirit? And then her mom joins in the song to reveal that Elsa is the one she’s been waiting for “all of my liiiiiiiiiiife.”
I see a similar story with me and Prisca in this painting— Prisca’s motherly spirit guiding me to show myself. No fear, just more of myself with love and respect to others.
The urgency to finish the piece was more than valid, as it ended up belonging to Prisca herself, and the day I delivered it was the last day of her stay in Monterey :’(
But it’s not goodbye. Just “see you later.”
And to you I say, go on! Show yourself <3
SHOW YOURSELF
30” x 40” Acrylic on canvas
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