"Beauty from the Struggle"
I am proud to share my newest painting “Beauty from the Struggle”, which pays homage to the incredible couple that inspired it and portrays how loss and love can coexist. What simply began as a new addition to my Seashell Series, soon became something much more. A story about two beautiful souls, that came together after suffering profound loss. Jack and Liz, owners of the Silver Peddler on Bald Head Island, were drawn to my paintings and the inspirational stories behind their origins.
What started as a business opportunity grew organically into a special relationship. As we became acquainted, we discovered we each had something very similar in common, the journey of grief. The feeling of being utterly lost yet finding the strength, patience, and courage to begin again and finally the path to new love. Liz and I both lost our husbands to cancer (ironically both named Jay). Additionally, Jack endured the loss of his wife Sharon after being injured in a work accident 7 years earlier. Liz and Jack connected through these shared sorrows and would eventually discover joy again—together, beginning a beautiful new chapter of love—beyond the struggle.
Immediately after our meeting, two things became very clear to me; my art has put some very extraordinary people in my path, some might even say these are God Winks. It also occurred to me that the closed clam that I had poured nearly 40 hours into painting, needed to be abandoned and my heart and hand immediately got to work on a new composition. I chose an open clam with the addition of a pearl to honor Jack and Liz. I aimed to capture not just the rough textures of the shell and luster of the pearl, but the courage to stay open—open to healing, open to letting pain give way to new strength and hope, open to growth, and to building a beautiful new life.
The openness of the clam shell and the new addition of the pearl became a symbol of our shared journeys. Surviving grief and opening ourselves up to rediscovering joy, purpose, and love. Clams, often associated with the phrase ‘happy as a clam’, are safe and content in calm, high waters; but become quite vulnerable amid low tides and turbulent storms—much like the emotional highs and lows of life. Just as nature forms a pearl over time, the clam experiences great vulnerability and hardship but eventually produces something strong and radiant. This slow, natural process reflects how healing unfolds—not overnight, but through patience and persistence. When we are ready, we can offer our own beauty from the struggle, our stories and talents as a guiding light to others. I hope Jack and Liz’s story of loss, grief, hope, healing, and love may help others transform pain into purpose—grief into grace.
I am proud to share my newest painting “Beauty from the Struggle”, which pays homage to the incredible couple that inspired it and portrays how loss and love can coexist. What simply began as a new addition to my Seashell Series, soon became something much more. A story about two beautiful souls, that came together after suffering profound loss. Jack and Liz, owners of the Silver Peddler on Bald Head Island, were drawn to my paintings and the inspirational stories behind their origins.
What started as a business opportunity grew organically into a special relationship. As we became acquainted, we discovered we each had something very similar in common, the journey of grief. The feeling of being utterly lost yet finding the strength, patience, and courage to begin again and finally the path to new love. Liz and I both lost our husbands to cancer (ironically both named Jay). Additionally, Jack endured the loss of his wife Sharon after being injured in a work accident 7 years earlier. Liz and Jack connected through these shared sorrows and would eventually discover joy again—together, beginning a beautiful new chapter of love—beyond the struggle.
Immediately after our meeting, two things became very clear to me; my art has put some very extraordinary people in my path, some might even say these are God Winks. It also occurred to me that the closed clam that I had poured nearly 40 hours into painting, needed to be abandoned and my heart and hand immediately got to work on a new composition. I chose an open clam with the addition of a pearl to honor Jack and Liz. I aimed to capture not just the rough textures of the shell and luster of the pearl, but the courage to stay open—open to healing, open to letting pain give way to new strength and hope, open to growth, and to building a beautiful new life.
The openness of the clam shell and the new addition of the pearl became a symbol of our shared journeys. Surviving grief and opening ourselves up to rediscovering joy, purpose, and love. Clams, often associated with the phrase ‘happy as a clam’, are safe and content in calm, high waters; but become quite vulnerable amid low tides and turbulent storms—much like the emotional highs and lows of life. Just as nature forms a pearl over time, the clam experiences great vulnerability and hardship but eventually produces something strong and radiant. This slow, natural process reflects how healing unfolds—not overnight, but through patience and persistence. When we are ready, we can offer our own beauty from the struggle, our stories and talents as a guiding light to others. I hope Jack and Liz’s story of loss, grief, hope, healing, and love may help others transform pain into purpose—grief into grace.