The Castaway
The Castaway, 40” x 30.5”, 2024 Acrylic on Reclaimed Mass-Produced Canvas
An Artist's Statement
This canvas came to me as a literal castaway—a large, mass-produced piece of art I found abandoned on the side of the road, waiting for a new home. As I took it into my studio, I knew its transformation would be deeply tied to my own. The initial act of painting over its surface became a parallel process of inner housekeeping, a conscious mission to begin the work of dejunking my soul.
With every layer of vibrant paint, with every flower that bloomed under my brush, I felt myself clearing out old habits, sweeping away painful memories, and making space. The process began with a frenetic, cleansing energy. But somewhere in that loving chaos, what started as an exercise in clearing out soon transformed into a profound act of nurturing. A quiet, unexpected feeling emerged that I hadn't anticipated—the gentle, unconditional love of a mother thinking on her children, long since grown and gone.
The dense wall of blossoms was no longer about cleaning, but had become a tapestry of cherished memories—full, abundant, and overflowing. The painting became a meditation on peace, tranquility, and acceptance. It stands now as an artifact of that journey, a testament to how the most cluttered spaces, both internal and external, can be reclaimed. It is a reminder that what was once discarded can be transformed into something beautiful and whole, filled with a deep and abiding love for all that has been.
