24” x 20”
Acrylic on canvas
You want the backstory of this painting, do you?
In 2009, I made a painting for art class. A decade and a half later, my assignment found its way back to me after living with friends for a while. My gut told me it was time to rework the painting, and I listened.
The teenaged-me had painted a person contorted in agony with migraines. It depicted an inner struggle that, at the time, had felt like a relief to externalize and communicate. But after having lived with that struggle for fifteen years beyond the creation of the painting, I couldn’t imagine wanting to spend extra time looking at it anymore. I wanted the painting to be something that uplifts and brings joy and energy into a room! I wanted to shift the perspective of the painting while leaving the bold streaks and strokes of colour alone. All that needed to be decided was: what do I want to spend time looking at?
To bring new energy and life to the canvas, I chose an animal known for its celebration of colour and texture - the octopus! The dumbo octopus brings me the most joy, so it was the obvious choice for me. What animal would you have chosen? Do you have a favourite octopus?
For me, this painting is a conversation about transformation and adaptation. Struggles will always exist in many forms, but finding ways to reclaim joy from a painful experience is possible. For me it was a matter of shifting perspective. I’ve learned to look for joy in small daily things, and let the strength of small appreciations keep me going. If I am having a worse day than that, I might throw on the live-streamed video of some marine biologists discovering a new species of small octopus (the dumbo octopus, to be more specific). Listening to other people be caught up in the joy and delight of discovery can be invigorating. Or at the very least, a balm to the soul on a troubled day.
Is there a corner of your home that could use an overflowing burst of cheerful colour? “Ebullient” could be the painting for you!
Reference photos used were stills from E/V Nautilus footage
24” x 20”
Acrylic on canvas
You want the backstory of this painting, do you?
In 2009, I made a painting for art class. A decade and a half later, my assignment found its way back to me after living with friends for a while. My gut told me it was time to rework the painting, and I listened.
The teenaged-me had painted a person contorted in agony with migraines. It depicted an inner struggle that, at the time, had felt like a relief to externalize and communicate. But after having lived with that struggle for fifteen years beyond the creation of the painting, I couldn’t imagine wanting to spend extra time looking at it anymore. I wanted the painting to be something that uplifts and brings joy and energy into a room! I wanted to shift the perspective of the painting while leaving the bold streaks and strokes of colour alone. All that needed to be decided was: what do I want to spend time looking at?
To bring new energy and life to the canvas, I chose an animal known for its celebration of colour and texture - the octopus! The dumbo octopus brings me the most joy, so it was the obvious choice for me. What animal would you have chosen? Do you have a favourite octopus?
For me, this painting is a conversation about transformation and adaptation. Struggles will always exist in many forms, but finding ways to reclaim joy from a painful experience is possible. For me it was a matter of shifting perspective. I’ve learned to look for joy in small daily things, and let the strength of small appreciations keep me going. If I am having a worse day than that, I might throw on the live-streamed video of some marine biologists discovering a new species of small octopus (the dumbo octopus, to be more specific). Listening to other people be caught up in the joy and delight of discovery can be invigorating. Or at the very least, a balm to the soul on a troubled day.
Is there a corner of your home that could use an overflowing burst of cheerful colour? “Ebullient” could be the painting for you!
Reference photos used were stills from E/V Nautilus footage
