This painting depicts my friend, someone I once sold shoes with at a mall on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Back then, neither of us could have imagined where life would take her next. What started for her as a simple desire to keep three small balls in the air opened a hidden door. Juggling led to spinning plates, blowing harmonicas, and eventually to clowning, both on stage and at home with her playful toddler.
In her world, joy and silliness aren’t distractions but essentials a way of staying present, connecting, and inviting laughter through art. I wanted to capture that spirit here: the balance between everyday life and imagination, the warmth of someone who finds meaning in play and beauty in the moment.
