The Emotional Landscape
Delicate Amour is about the strength it takes to be softer after pain. It explores the quiet resilience that often goes unseen – especially in the aftermath of trauma. At its core, it’s a painting about reclaiming sensuality without inviting the male gaze; about feeling at home in my body again, but on my own terms. The figure is calm and grounded, holding herself with protective grace. She is not guarded but she is not fully open either. That in between space carries tension and truth: the desire to feel, to connect, to be present – without being consumed or defined by anyone else. It’s a portrait of healing that honours boundaries.
Personal Connection
This painting came from a place of deep emotional recalibration. Many women that experience SA may feel disconnected from their body – not just physically, but emotionally. Painting women has become a way to reclaim that connection, to explore vulnerability and embodiment in a way that felt safe and self-led.
Delicate Armour is different to my other paintings. She’s the only one who is almost fully covered. This paining portrays the quiet reclamation of the beginning stages of healing. It’s about choosing what stays visible and what remains just for you.
The Story of Creation
The process of making this piece was slow and repetitive – almost meditative. I used intricate paste work to build delicate floral textures, like a second skin carefully stitched into place. It felt protective, grounding, even ritualistic. But once that surface was complete, I disrupted it – adding splashes, imperfections, and mess.
That tension between control and surrender was intentional. The paste represented care and construction; the splatters, the truth that healing is messy. It’s not always graceful. It’s layered, nonlinear, and full of contradiction.
Delicate Armour holds both: the softness we build to survive, and the wildness we allow in once we feel safe enough to begin again.
Display recommendations
Size: 39.5” x 32”
Medium: Acrylic paint and paste on canvas
This painting’s soothing colours and tranquil energy make it ideal for spaces such as bedrooms, where the viewer can pause and reflect in solitude. It would also be effective in spaces meant for meditation or self-reflection, offering a calming atmosphere. Positioning it in a quiet corner, where one can sit and engage with the artwork thoughtfully, will enhance the emotional connection it fosters. To emphasise the introspective quality of the artwork, consider displaying it in a room with soft, natural lighting that complements the serene tones of the painting.
