Bright Past, oil on canvas, 12x16", 2020

When painting this piece I was thinking about how the future can seem less frightening and uncertain when we can be grateful for good thigs from our past. At the same time, the point of the work for me is recognizing that for so many people that is impossible. Not everyone starts from the same place or has the same advantages. No story is the same, and given that some stories do not have a bright past, when I was painting this I was thinking about how much better things are when we come together and support those who have faced immeasurable challenges. So what is the challenge? In the process of creating this, I realized that the challenge is finding gratitude while doing what we can to advocate and help, without letting in too much of the darkness. To focus on the light and bring light to others whenever we can.