Believe

2014
16 x 20 in.
Mixed Media on Canvas

Collector’s Notes

Composition:
A solemn female face, framed in textured yarn-like strands of golden hair, gazes forward with quiet determination. Her features emerge from layers of text and prayer, surrounded by blossoms in her hair and crowned by butterflies — timeless symbols of transformation and freedom. The vertical, weathered backdrop carries a sense of history and struggle, reinforcing the theme of perseverance.

Color & Texture:
Earthy browns, ochres, and subtle metallics create a layered, tactile surface. The rich textures of marble powder, paper, and mirror fragments lend depth, while the soft ivory of the butterflies offers contrast — a visual metaphor for hope lifting out of heaviness.

Medium & Technique:
The piece integrates acrylic paint with unconventional materials such as yarn, plastic, mirror, and text collage. Words of affirmation are embedded subtly across the surface — “beautiful, kind, spiritual, winner” — echoing the whispers of self-belief. The serenity prayer is inscribed within the woman’s face, binding faith and resilience into her very identity.

Style & Story:
Rooted in the spirit of mixed media, this work bridges personal reflection and universal truth. The artist draws inspiration from both spiritual practice and psychological resilience, using text and texture to embody the strength found in belief.

Emotional Connection:
Believe resonates as both a mirror and a guide. Viewers are reminded that success is not accidental but rooted in persistence, faith, and vision. The butterflies soaring above the woman’s head serve as an invitation to rise above limitations and embrace transformation.

Context & Significance:
Created in 2014, this painting reflects the artist’s ongoing exploration of resilience, spirituality, and affirmation through tactile, symbolic forms. It is both an intimate self-reflection and a universal reminder: when faith in oneself aligns with trust in the greater whole, doubt loses its power and the spirit soars.

Message from the Artist

This work was born out of my own wrestle with doubt and faith in self. I wanted to explore what it feels like to hold onto belief even when the path is obstructed, when the world seems to echo back uncertainty. The serenity prayer inscribed in the woman’s face became both anchor and compass, a testament to the strength we find when we trust in something greater than ourselves.

The subtle affirmations embedded across the canvas were deliberately faint, as qualities like kindness or courage often whisper rather than shout. They exist within us, waiting for effort and attention to make them visible. The mirrors, meanwhile, remind us to turn inward, to recognize the light that guides us from within.

At its essence, Believe is about resilience — the quiet insistence that even in adversity, faith in ourselves can steady our steps and allow us to rise, again and again.