When a painting changes meaning

A few weeks ago, I shared the first painting from what is now becoming my red series.

At the time, I described the piece through the lens of the healthcare system in America. That interpretation felt true to me then. But something interesting has happened since. As I continued working, the painting began to take on a different meaning.

Untitled for now. 36×36 Mixed media on canvas

Lately, when I look at it, I see something deeper. The work is beginning to speak more about the body itself, about what happens after loss, and the slow, complicated process of power returning to the body.

This shift has been guiding the direction of the series. Instead of focusing outward, the work is turning inward. I’m exploring what it means for the body to reclaim itself, to rebuild strength, and hold life again after it has been altered by experience.

The first painting now feels like the beginning of that question.

Today I’m sharing the second piece in the series with you. It continues that exploration, and it’s helping me understand where this body of work wants to go.

These works explore what it means for power to return to the body after loss. They speak to the moment when something precious is taken, and you know there’s a part of yourself that will never fully come back. There is anger in that space, confusion, and disorientation. And then there is the shift which is the decision to reclaim control, gather what remains, and stand firmly in your own power again.

Untitled for now, 36×36 Mixed media on canvas

Thank you for being here and for following the process as it unfolds. I’d also love to hear your thoughts. If something in the work speaks to you, or if it stirs a feeling or memory, feel free to share it with me. I always welcome the conversations that unfold around the work.

Thank you for your support