‘Reflected Glory’ was painted in the middle of Chemotherapy treatment, and with a sheer determination to remain positive, I worked with colours of a rich vibrancy.
One day, working in my studio, and with chest pains, I applied a red glaze, but then as my situation grew worse I had to call the paramedics. They had me wired up so I mouthed to my husband to remove the painting from the floor so that the men had room to work. Then the paint started to drip! I was in no position to do anything so had to let it be.
Later, when I was discharged from hospital, I was able to mop up a few drips, but the red had mostly dried and remained looking fluid, with the drips still in place. So I sat with it for a few weeks, but decided that it was done. I loved those expressive marks and they captured the moment; the story was captured within this work and I love it for that.
This year though, I decided to work into it again. I had walked into peace and wanted to express that peace within this work. So, whilst the drips remain as a record of what I went through, the whole expression is now one of settled peace, with a calmer colour pallet.