Roots and Wings

A Love Letter to my Grand-mother: “Roots and Wings” -

When I think of resilience, I see my grandmother's hands—weathered by time but never weakened by circumstance. My "Roots and Wings" painting captures the essence of how she shaped my life, providing both the stable foundation and the courage to soar. This painting is more than art; it's the visual representation of a love that transcended traditional family roles and taught me what it means to persevere.

My story began differently than most. When my mother found herself unable to care for my twin sister and me, and after my father's passing, it was my grandmother who stepped forward without hesitation. As my preschool teacher, she already understood the delicate nature of nurturing young minds, but becoming our primary caregiver meant embracing an entirely new chapter in her life when most people her age were considering retirement.

The roots in my painting represent the countless sacrifices she made. Each textured line in the bark tells a story—the late nights helping with homework, the extra shifts she took to provide for us, the birthday parties she meticulously planned to ensure we never felt different from other children. I've embedded words like "Love," "Resilience," and "Faith" into the soil by the roots—qualities she demonstrated daily that became the foundation of my character.

What makes my grandmother extraordinary isn't just that she took us in, but how she transformed potential tragedy into triumph. When classmates asked about my parents, I would think of her proudly and everything she does for me. The hands stretching skyward in my artwork symbolize the confidence to pursue dreams beyond our circumstances. Despite financial constraints, she never limited my ambitions. When I expressed interest in art, she would search for instruments or supplies, to encourage and guide me. When I struggled with math, she stayed up late going through my textbook after working all day and cooking dinner. Each branch bears small symbols of these opportunities—a paintbrush, a book, a musical note—all reaching toward a limitless sky.

Now, as my grandmother battles cancer, I witness a new dimension of her resilience. The vibrant colors transitioning from the earth-toned roots to the hopeful blues and purples of the upper branches mirror her journey. Even in illness, she demonstrates grace and determination. I've incorporated subtle pink and purple tones among the sky as a testament to her current fight, showing that growth and beauty persist even during life's harshest seasons. This painting honors not just what my grandmother did for me, but what she taught me about facing adversity. With the strength of branches, the strongest ones bend without breaking, that's resilience. The lesson in my life resonates through every brushstroke of my artwork, particularly in the texture of the trunk that shows both strength and flexibility.

My grandmother's legacy isn't just in raising me, but in showing me that resilience isn't the absence of hardship but the ability to grow through it. The handprints embedded throughout the painting represent this generational wisdom—her hands guided mine, and someday, I hope to pass these lessons to another generation. The "Roots and Wings" painting is my love letter to the woman who gave me both stability and freedom. Through her example, I learned that resilience isn't a destination but a journey of continuous growth, much like a tree that reaches skyward while remaining firmly grounded. I hope you see beyond the visual elements to the story of extraordinary love and resilience it represents—a story that continues to unfold as I apply these lessons to support my grandmother through her illness, completing the beautiful cycle of nurturing she began.