Embrace
Oil on Canvas
About The Painting
February 26th, 2020. “You’ve grown tired, have’t you dear?”, she reassured. “It was too difficult. I’m so sorry. I failed you”, was my excuse. My stature felt different, like the weighing years had melted off and I was almost floating. She snuck in closer and whispered in my ear with her arms wrapped around me, “I understand. It’s alright now. It’s time to rest.” “Just five more minutes? You know how much I missed this”, I pleaded like an innocent child. “I suppose. Maybe you’ll see me when you awake, but it’s a surprise”, as she somehow wrapped herself around me even more. It was just like her to say something alluring like that. A cold winter wind blew against my neck and creeped throughout the rest of my body, but it felt as though a warmth was melting me asleep. My eyes grew heavy as my head dropped on to her soft shoulder. It was becoming too difficult to fight to stay awake, but I was already asleep. I expelled my last bit of energy to muster up one last, “I really missed you.” Finally closing my eyelids and letting go, drifting off. Was this really her loving hug again, after all these years? Or was this just me, making the rounds in my head, to embrace death?
Inspiration
Embrace is a small taste of the narrative I have been trying to ready myself in to painting. Released specifically on December 20th, a date very important and tragic to me. While this surreal painting is set on February 26th, 2020, the prior December 20th had marked the sixth year anniversary of the loss of the woman in the painting. Those six years were a living hell for me. I didn’t want to live through another anniversary. Nor to survive this ordeal in to my 30s. I had planned out my demise for that December 20th, but by pure happenstance, that plan had been delayed. In those final moments before I would fall in to the darkness, this is the acceptance I have illustrated of that private moment. The irony that very acceptance was what allowed the loving man that was lost before to finally return back. The courage gained from facing death would finally allow me to face the loss that caused so much pain the six years prior.
Charity
As a way of me giving back, 10% of all proceeds (both original and any limited reproductions) will be donated to National Alliance on Mental Illness. Had it not been for the help and support of this organization, I would not be here today to share my emotions in artwork.
Where To Visit
The original painting is currently on display at Patina Arts Centre in Canton Ohio, and can be viewed there. The address is 324 Cleveland Ave NW, Canton, OH 44702.
Purchase Embrace
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