It’s hard for me to throw away canvas. I have an ingrained belief that an unsuccessful painting can always be redeemed—no matter how many layers of attempts are made—and I’ve proven my theory correct more often than not.

This assumption is what led me to keep a very large painting rolled up in my storage closet for several months.

As I was cleaning one day, I found this piece, unrolled the fabric, and was surprised to see something quite lovely.

“Why did I get rid of this?” I initially wondered. Maybe it was an impulsive decision after a frustrating day of tilling the soil of my creative process.

Regardless, I enjoyed the painting. There was good movement and detail, and I loved the colors. But something was still off. The longer I looked at it, the more I could feel it. The work wasn’t finished.

I looked around at the other paintings starting to grow in my studio–layered in brushstrokes that resembled tapestries–and I got the idea to cover this painting in a blanket of yellow marks. The idea felt a bit risky. It felt like sacrificial in a way. 

By covering the composition, I would be releasing the painting in hopes of a better one to come.

But I liked the idea, so I decided to take the risk.

Making Here’s My Heart felt like a true release of control. The finished painting illustrates beauty in sacrifice.