SURVIVOR | Acrylic on Canvas

How can a single painting represent breast cancer? I don't think one painting can, because the experience of diagnosis and treatment and, hopefully, survival bring forth so many emotions. The aspect I wanted to show was endurance in the face of chaos.

I recently underwent a double mastectomy and reconstruction which didn't go exactly as planned. Five months of pain, weakness, and tears inspired me to create 'Survivor'. Maybe "inspired" is the wrong word. I didn't really feel inspired. A lot of positive and negative energy found its way into the painting. I actually found the completed painting somewhat off-putting because there was so much energy in it. At first glance it's not an easy painting to look at, but I think there is truth in it. All of us have something to survive, so let's all endure.