“I love you more than my own skin”-Frida Khalo. This quote resonates with me ever since I gave birth to my daughter last December, I loved her before I even knew her. My series is inspired by the moment she took her first breath and my life as a new mother. “ Meeting Violet” consists of 12 acrylic and gouache paintings on 9x12 watercolor paper. It depicts images of my pregnancy, medical complications during the birth and our lives together afterwards.

 

          To start off the series, I felt it is important to start with the positive pregnancy test to hint at what the series is going to be about. The second painting depicts my first ultrasound at 20 weeks. The bright colored backgrounds convey the moods of the objects and my joyful feelings at the time. All of my images are from photographs and still lifes I created. 

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         My style is representational, I love painting visible brushstrokes. I feel that it gives the work vibrance and expressiveness. This series is very personal for me because my pregnancy happened at a vulnerable moment in history. I hope to connect with the viewers and spread happiness to those who have experienced pregnancy or isolation during the pandemic.

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        The birth was painful due to my water being broken for too long and not dilating fast enough, this caused me and the baby to get an infection. We needed an emergency c-section and then, a few hours later my baby Violet was admitted into the NICU for 7 days because of a large air bubble in her system and a blockage in her stomach that needed surgery. Thankfully, a miracle happened and surgery was no longer needed. She continues to inspire me.