Inspiration Behind "Peace Begins with Me"

Peace begins with me.

It's a mantra + mudra combo I learned a couple years back that's stuck. Things I remember are short and simple and this one is both. While you say "Peace…begins…with…me" you bring a finger to touch your thumb for each word. So, "peace" is the index finger, "begins" is the middle finger, "with" is the ring finger, and "me" is the little finger. As you say the mantra to yourself, you move your fingers, then some kind of magic happens that invites a calm and content feeling.

As this golden skinned girl emerged from the canvas, she brought with her "light and reflection" balanced by her dark hair and playful purple highlights. I had no idea what colors I would use but really enjoy the contrast of the purples, yellows, oranges, and reds. There are various elements scattered throughout the painting that represent movement, freedom, and lightness - several types of butterflies, clouds, shimmery flowers, and repeating patterns.

This girl has loads of ideas and inspiration floating around her head but still exudes a sense of calm and peace. She's got a modern short haircut with microbangs studded with flowers from the garden. She's solid and has a strong sense of self.

She's created on canvas with acrylic paints, texture paste, stamped ink, metallic ink, and copic marker. She's large and makes a statement at 30 x 40 x 1.5 inches with a sawtooth hanger, making her ready to hang. The edges of the canvas are painted in a solid black. And, finally, she's finished with an archival gloss finish that enhances the light and reflection even more.

I so enjoyed watching her come together and can't wait to find the person who's home she belongs in. If you or someone you know is that person, feel free to reach out.

Sent with a smile,

Heather