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Quote that inspired this piece:
“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”
— Nora Ephron
My poem for this painting:
There is a moment
when the door begins to loosen beneath your hand.
The old fog remains for a while.
Soft at the edges.
Familiar.
But no longer enough
to keep you from seeing
what might be waiting beyond it.
Something in you is stirring,
beginning to climb.
A small, insistent reaching
towards the light.
Even the flowers that bloom in winter
know this:
that endurance is not the same
as standing still.
You do not need to become fearless
to begin.
You do not need every answer
before you move.
There is courage
in the first turn of the key.
In deciding that your life
will not be shaped
only by what has been before.
And somewhere between
the leaving and the opening,
you remember—
you don’t need to wait
to be rescued.
You were meant
to become the woman
who opens the door.
Symbolism:
RED SMOKE BUSH:
- Represents the old self beginning to loosen its hold. Its soft, cloud-like haze speaks to the fog of uncertainty that has surrounded her for so long — but here, that fog is beginning to lift.
- She is no longer entirely hidden within the life she has outgrown. The edges of something new are starting to appear.
PURPLE CLEMATIS
- Placed over her heart, the clematis is the central symbol of the painting.
- It represents the part of her that is no longer simply imagining another life, but moving towards it.
- A flower that climbs towards the light, it speaks to her heart, mind and imagination becoming active forces in her own becoming. She is beginning to reach.
HELLEBORE
- The hellebores carry the quieter, steadier note beneath the painting.
- Flowering in the cold season, they represent resilience, discernment and the private strength that has endured through the years when nothing seemed to be changing.
- They speak to her inward gaze — to her growing trust in her own inner compass.
ALSTROEMERIA
- The red-and-white alstroemeria bring a bright flare of vitality into the work.
- Representing endurance, determination and the return of her life-force.
- This is the first visible energy of a woman beginning to move forward — the small but undeniable green shoots of a life beginning to take shape.
HIDDEN KEY:
- In this painting it represents the first turn in the lock.
- The door is not yet fully open, but it has begun to give, and that changes everything!
More from this series
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Quality & Craftsmanship:
Giclée print on 300gsm archival cotton rag paper.
Printed with museum-grade inks to preserve colour, depth, and detail.Edition:
Produced in strictly limited quantities.
Once the edition has sold, it will not be reprinted.
Authentication:
Each print is accompanied by a signed, individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Sizing & Proportion:
As each original painting is created on hand-cut paper, its proportions may vary slightly from standard A4, A3, A2 or A1 dimensions.
Prints are scaled to the longest edge of the selected size to preserve the full composition of the artwork. -
Medium:
Mixed media on heavyweight archival paperSize:
68 × 56cm
(approx. 27” x 22”)Authenticity:
Hand-signed original artwork accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.Craftsmanship:
Created using professional-grade archival materials selected for longevity and colour integrity. -
Pricing:
All prices are listed in Australian dollars (AUD).Final Sale:
Due to the limited nature of each release, all purchases are final.Worldwide Shipping:
Complimentary global shipping is included for both original paintings and prints.Customs & Duties:
International orders may be subject to customs duties or import taxes, payable by the recipient. These charges are set by your country’s import laws and are outside my control.Dispatch Timeline:
Please allow approximately 6–8 weeks for your order to be carefully prepared and dispatched.
You will receive an email notification as soon as your artwork is on its way.Packaging:
All original paintings and prints are supplied unframed and carefully rolled in protective, acid-free materials before being securely packaged in a cylinder for delivery.