Seeing beyond the reference…
This piece started as a normal style study, the kind I usually approach with a random beauty pulled from Pinterest.But partway through, my spirit nudged me in a different direction. Instead of choosing a stranger, I reached for my nanny’s photo and used her as the reference instead.
From the beginning, my goal was not to recreate her exactly as she appears in that picture. I wanted to capture how I see her, beyond the photograph, in her ancestral form. I placed her alongside the constellation Aquila, which symbolizes freedom, beauty, and strength. Everything she has always represented to me. This was my way of honouring her presence, not just her likeness.
While creating this piece and reflecting on it through writing, I realized this is the true beauty of art for me. You might not know what this image means in the way that I do, and that is okay. Art is meant to be interpreted.
But as the artist, knowing what I poured into this work, who she represents, what she carries, and what she gave me, is deeply filling and satisfying. This piece was not about achieving a perfect resemblance. It was about honoring her in a way that feels honest to me.
Brushes ✨
RizzCraft (https://www.truegrittexturesupply.com)
