There are certain moments in life that silently mark the beginning of something new, even before we realise their significance. This painting holds that moment for me. I created it at a time when I stood at the edge of uncertainty - still carrying the weight of my past and unsure if the love I once had for brushes and colours still lived within me.
I picked up the tools after years, unsure if my hands would remember how to express what my heart had buried. With every stroke, I searched for answers. The gold represents hope - something I thought I had lost along the way. The black, a reflection of doubt -every fear and self-questioning thought that whispered I should have never returned to art.
But somewhere between these two arcs, in the textured lines that bridge them, I found myself. This piece is not just about contrast - light and dark, past and future - it's about choosing to move forward. This painting became my silent promise to myself: I still have love for this, and I always will.
This is where my journey as an artist restarted. This is where I became The Gesso Girl.
Technical Aspects The painting is crafted on canvas using cement paste as the primary medium, creating both rough and smooth textures. The white background carries random, chaotic textures - representing the uncertainty that surrounded this piece. The golden arch is made with metallic gold acrylics, layered delicately to give a reflective sheen that shifts with the light, symbolising hope and the warmth of rediscovered passion.
The black arch is textured with deep grooves, intentionally uneven, carrying a heavier feel. Small rust-like marks break through both arches, symbolising imperfections”because no journey begins without scars.
Every ridge invites touch, offering not just a visual but a tactile experience - because my art is meant to be felt, not just seen.
This piece isn't perfect, but that's exactly why it's so special. It carries the weight of self-doubt and the spark of rediscovery - everything that made me pick up the brush again.
