Finding My Way Back

Back in April, I wrote about how my vision was changing the way I create. Looking back now, I realize that was really just the beginning.

A lot has happened since then.

I'm back in the Pacific Northwest, closer to my family and finally getting the medical care I need for my eyes. It wasn't a move I expected to make, but it's been exactly where I need to be. Being back here has given me the support and space to focus on healing—and, unexpectedly, it's changed my art in ways I never saw coming.

Painting isn't as simple as it used to be. My brain has to work so much harder to make sense of what my eyes are seeing, and because of that, I've had to let go of a lot of control. Instead of painting exactly what I see, I'm trusting intuition more than ever. Texture, movement, and emotion have become my language.

I've noticed my paintings changing right alongside me.

They're becoming less about the subject and more about the feeling behind it.

Lately I've been creating pieces that explore emotions like Grief, Anger, Fragmented, Resilience, Release, and Absence. They weren't planned as a series—they simply became an honest reflection of where I am and what this season of life has felt like.

As difficult as this journey has been, it's reminded me why I create in the first place. Art has never been about perfection for me. It's always been about connection. If someone stands in front of one of my paintings and feels understood, then I've done what I set out to do.

I'm excited to see where this next chapter leads. Vida Magic Art is home again in the Pacific Northwest, and I can't wait to keep sharing this journey with all of you.

Thank you, as always, for being here.

❤️ Melissa