Everything I paint comes from the depths of my psyche. Having experienced severe trauma growing up and in my past marriage, I now seek to dispel the darkness and transform it into a thing of beauty. As an adopted child who has always felt the separation from her biological parents, I explore themes of childhood, motherhood, and family. My paintings are either truthful representations of myself or scenes depicting my imaginary life with my blood relations. How different would I be had they never left me? Layer after layer of acrylic paint, I uncover this reality and the complexity of my emotions. Through art I have learned how to accept myself and heal. The women I paint are full-figured and imperfect, but beautiful nevertheless. Just like me. I bear a message for all those who carry the burden of shame and the scars of domestic violence, suicide, and mental health illnesses. I want to say to them that there is hope; that they can turn their life around, just like I have.
