This piece was my first mixed media painting using acrylic and oil, and it also marked an important shift for me. It was the first piece where I changed the given reference to better fit what I wanted the painting to say.
That felt significant.
Up until then, so much of the process had been about learning to observe, interpret, and build skill. But with this one, I started to feel the difference between painting what I saw and shaping the image toward my own vision. That was exciting.
There is freedom in it, but not a wild kind of freedom. It feels grounded, powerful, and fully present. I was drawn to that balance and wanted the painting to carry both beauty and strength.
The “Unfolding” signifies the beginning of stretching out, rising up, and learning how to fly.
