In this group of paintings, I wanted to cultivate a feeling of positivity, joy, and vibrance I felt while painting them even though the world at the time was undergoing such tragedy with the pandemic. I couldn’t help but make my palettes the brightest they could be. I used painting to transport me out of the sleepless nights and unending fatigue I suffered while in the throes of long-covid and taking care of two kids under the age of 3. I had just had my second child. She was pure JOY, and I would often think of both my children while these paintings came to life. They were the anchor. The sweetest gifts. I let my heart guide my hand, my intuition guide my palette, and it came together quite naturally. Almost more naturally than anything I’ve ever done. It’s an emotional release at the same time, it is a build-up of those emotions to place them onto the stretched fabric, the sounds that it creates, the tautness of the canvas, the consistencies of the paint (or lack thereof) - it is a very sensual experience. When I close my eyes, the colors are vibrant inside, like an ancient antenna where I receive transmissions of the interconnectedness I feel when I meditate through shared experiences and the use of mind-altering medicines.