Valandra

Valandra, Freedom: Soft and Serene

I am a survivor of 13 years of father-daughter incest and I’ve spent the last 17 years of my adult life healing from the trauma. Painting provided me with a safe space to feel again. While painting I learned to trust again, to breathe deeply, to appreciate my vulnerabilities and strengths, and to connect with the beauty of living when at times, it seemed so much easier to die than to keep going into the pain, the shame, and guilt for the sake of healing. Art kept me alive and connected to the part of myself that was untouched by the abuse. It offered me an inner sanctuary in the outer world. I am most drawn to images that represent nature, beauty, softness, tranquility, freedom, and peace. Flowers, butterflies, shells, water, and earth are symbols of hope for me and a visual testament of health, and recovery. Each time I paint, I am choosing life and each painting becomes a reminder that I have survived and continue to thrive.