This One is a Little Different...

I’m so happy to share April’s painting with you as well as the story behind it. This painting is part of my “Year of Exploration” experiment which you can read more about here.

“Paletas for Breakfast” 20x20 on cradled wood panel. Shop this painting

When I look at this painting, I see the story of women like us.

Comfortable in her own skin, fiercely independent and courageous. She loves new experiences, strange places and befriending people of all backgrounds. Through the years, she's learned that life is precious and beautiful. After playing it safe for many years, she decided to do life on her terms regardless of societal "norms" or what others might say.

Plot twist: she's never been happier.

The Inspiration

I want to tell you a little bit about the phenomenal woman who inspired “Paletas for Breakfast”.

This work was inspired by a gifted blogger I've known for years, Saya of @sayaland. Born in Japan, raised in California and now living in Mexico with her husband Beto, she's a woman straddling three cultures.

I love how she embraces change while navigating daily life in a new country. I'm obsessed with her beautiful photos of adventures big and small as she and her husband explore Mexico. One of the (many) things I love about Saya is her fierce individuality, independence and courage as she documents her journey of building a unique life off the beaten path regardless of what others might consider “normal”.

As someone who has also taken a path less travelled, I really enjoy her perspectives on living an authentic life.

This photo in particular has been one of my favorites for a couple of years now. So glad I was finally able to carve out the time to paint her!

I love that there is so much going on in her surroundings…it's a little chaotic…and she's totally content as she enjoys her paleta on a hot summer afternoon. Kind of like a purring cat.

The Process

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” - Brene Brown

PS. What the heck is a paleta?

It's a frozen treat … kind of like a fresh, luscious, super yummy popsicle. But without any artificial flavors or mass production. Paletas are made from natural ingredients like mango, berries and my favorite, coconut! Street vendors sell them all over the place in Hispanic countries as well as hispanic neighborhoods here in the US. They are GOOD!