Description
Inspiration behind the piece In 2019, I was painting women who inspired me—strong women in my life, women I met briefly, some women who I had never met but appreciated their values and the energy they were putting out into the word. Also women I met and admired from my travels
When I was solo backpacking, I spent time with the Black Hmong tribe in Vietnam. I was struck by their resilience and self-sufficiency. They spoke clear English, grew hemp to make fabric, wove it, dug indigo to dye the fabric, and used honey from their beehives to create batik patterns. They even embroidered the garments by hand. It was incredible to witness how they lived off the land, and I found that the women in these communities were often the strongest and most capable in their families.
The second woman in my painting is inspired by a mix of cultures—my time living in Nanjing, China, for a year, and my love for Japanese culture.
