Sometimes I paint to feel better. Sometimes I paint to make you feel better. This time, it's both.

Community is the story of what happens when we draw courage from our light within, scant as it may be, to face the world honestly and build connections without fear or restraint. It's not resources or talent or skill that ensures survival in bleak times, it's people, and the acts of service we give that ultimately nourish us in return, exponentially.

The story: I was 37, severely depressed, and isolated from everybody I’d known. 

I wasn’t making new friends. I didn’t believe I was worthy of anyone. Working from home made it too easy to never leave the house. But something urged me to get back into climbing. Moving my body began rewiring my brain.

I couldn’t sustain my marketing business, even though it was good money. It was killing me. So I swallowed my pride and got a job at the climbing gym. I took a gigantic pay cut. But in return, I gradually acquired the most incredible, diverse community of best friends, close friends, and friendly acquaintances. I even met the love of my life there.

Big risks come with big rewards. This piece is about learning to listen to my body –  it was telling me something was very wrong. We are animals first; I was misaligned with myself and nature. “Community” tells the story of branching out, and the value of the slow, steady, necessary work of building relationships that become your roots in thunderstorms. 

Product Specifications

Product Specifications

• 48” wide, 48” tall, 2” deep

• Acrylic paint on stretched, gallery-wrapped canvas

• Gloss lacquered for sun and dust protection

• Hanging hardware is pre-attached; arrives ready to hang

• Includes certificate of authenticity