Nicole's Story Behind The Painting:

The movement of gold, pink, white, and blue hues in "Hope" resembles the center of a flame, or it could be a pastel waterfall. The colors seem to be dancing on the canvas.

"Hope" is part of my series Into the Light. This series is all about the healing power of grief. Allowing myself to feel my grief is a process of continually moving through the darkness into the light. There are many sayings that allude to this crucial process: "the light at the end of the tunnel," "the light in the dark," "guiding light," or "where there is darkness, there is light."

When my heart hurts and it feels like life has given me one too many dark tunnels to move through, hope gives me purpose. Hope is not naive, but rather hope is practical, an aid in survival and pursuing an existence beyond just survival. Hope is sustenance for the soul. Hope is dancing in the rain and singing to the moon. Hope reminds me that there is always something special to be found in experiencing life. Hope reminds me to cry, to feel my pain as deeply as I love.

As Hafiz wrote in his poem, "Brings Life to a Field" —

It is not possible to complete yourself
without sorrow.

So endure sadness the best you can
when its season comes.

Meanwhile, unbeknowst to you
a sun takes birth in a sky
you will one day know

and the tears that fall from your eyes
bring life to a field
you will someday walk in.