I painted this a couple years ago, at a time in my life when quite frankly, I was done. I was tired of the stress that school was causing, I was exhausted by the family troubles going on, and life was just not letting up. The effort into my artwork was visibly decreasing, and my art teachers were getting impatient with me. Three hours a day, I would paint, but get nothing done. for weeks, I would spend hours on minor details of paintings that didn’t matter, so that I wouldn’t have to start a new one. I stayed in a box, and I didn’t want to be taken out. Does that sound like an artist to you? Yeah, me either - at least not this one.

My teachers finally decided to break me out: they had me set out three canvases and paint on all three of them at the same time. I just went for it. I had no idea what my paintings were about for a while, until these girls appeared, confined to these spaces that seemed so claustrophobic and restrictive to them. This was among the first. My teachers wanted to see what I was working on, and when I brought this piece to the table, they said: “DON’T TOUCH IT.” “…but I haven’t fini-” I tried to argue. “Do. Not. Touch it.” They were persistent, but I tried again: “there’s still whi-.” “You are not allowed to touch it.” My efforts were to no avail, and so to this day it remains untouched. 

They never explained what they saw, in it. Rather, they wanted me to figure it out. I’m not sure that I have yet, but I’ll give you what I’ve found, over the last couple of years, and then I’d like to hear from all of you wonderful people! 

This obviously isn’t a happy piece. There’s a black abyss, if you will, at her core. She seems hopeless and miserable. That’s one perspective. Now look at it this way: There’s no true confinement around her. The black fades out into lighter, more promising colors, and past the edge of the painting, the possibilities could be endless. She’s holding herself around this empty, dark spot, when she could just stretch out, let it go, and leave it behind. Imagine the immense freedom she would feel! 

Jesus Christ invites all of us to do this - to hand our burdens over to Him, to leave them behind, and to follow Him. He knows where to find ULTIMATE HAPPINESS, and he wants every single one of us to find it! That’s why he suffered for our sins - so that we wouldn’t have to, and so it would be possible for us to reach that happiness and freedom. We may not be able to see what’s outside the edges of the painting, but He knows EXACTLY what lies ahead. He knows what trials we’ll face, and what path will bring the utmost happiness. He wants to lead us all through the maze of possibilities, but we have to do what He asks, so that we can find it. 

Heavenly Father loves you, and He sent His son, Jesus Christ for you. He knows what you, individually, need and what will make you happy, and He wants so badly to lead you there. He asks for us to follow the example of His son, and to keep His commandments. I know without a doubt that you will find so much happiness, if you do this. 

What now? I would love to answer any questions or talk with you about how we follow Jesus Christ! Feel free to send us an ask!
You are also welcome to message and add me on Facebook, here!Or e-mail me at 109180941@mormon.org
See what I believe, here!

What do you see in this painting?

Love,
Sister Flores