Bear Hug

Bear Hug.

In my case with a growing family of 2 little ones under 5, my ‘life as an artist’ isn’t what it used to be.

I can’t paint to my heart’s desire, like I used to do whenever I wanted.

My Heart has other responsibilities.

Yet I’m still an artist.

Learning how to be there for my art and my family.

Raising kids has been a journey like no other. The most challenging thing I’ve ever done.

The rewards are unique, simple, and profound.

Like having a little one fall asleep on you and you can literally experience that exact moment when they fall asleep.

Sometimes you just look over at your child in the simplest of moments and are in awe of the magnificence of their innocence.

It’s the most beautiful thing while simultaneously breaking your heart as you are aware of the WORLD we have created around these little ones.

A world which they now must walk into and a world in which you as parents must prepare them for and guide them into and through.

A world which has a way of pulling the Innocence from their eyes each day they are alive.

This motivates me.

It inspires me to be better, to do better.

To conceive of a world where that innocence is preserved, nurtured, celebrated, cultivated.

That innocence that as adults we feel we have lost or at least have misplaced within us beneath layers of memories, trauma, time, decisions, regrets, judgements, belief systems, and the different versions of ourselves that are ultimately not who we really are.

I’ve enjoyed bringing some of these experiences I’ve had as a parent into my artwork to explore and express.

This piece is titled

Bear Hug.

A simple yet powerful moment.

A hug.

Because the world needs one.

Because we all need one!