Rattlesnakes strike terror in our hearts and they are part of life in the Southwest. Desiring to not live in fear of them I did extensive research and discovered a parallel between how they are managed and how women are treated in our society. (Read more about this connection on my BLOG post "An Idea is Born".) As I looked at the women in my northeastern New Mexico rural community I appreciated how they have survived and thrived in society which is often hostile to them.

 

Mature women who have lived lives full of loves, losses, grief, joy, pain, and everything in-between interest me and seeing their strength and resiliency inspired me to paint their portraits. They sat in my studio wearing an off-the-shoulder top so that no clothes were seen, then they took off their jewelry and glasses. Week after week they looked straight at me as they shared their life stories. With the candid honesty that sometimes comes with talking to a stranger, they opened up and showed their vulnerability along with their resolve and courage. Their hard earned wisdom after surviving betrayal, serious medical issues, discrimination, death threats, and more was impressive.

 

As they talked I selected an emotion to paint on one side of the face and a different emotion for the other side to capture the complexities of their lives. Each portrait took a month or more to complete.

 

Many of the women I painted think they haven’t done anything extraordinary, but I see them as survivors who accomplished something incredibly challenging: they held onto their ability to be kind and show compassion to their families and community through strikingly difficult times. Not everyone can do that.

 

Beauty exists in all ages and shines brightest in women who have found their way back to happiness after tragedy. This series of portraits celebrates them and their many accomplishments.