"Absente" Original Painting

"Absente" was created in 2023 on a 16" x 20" stretched canvas using acrylic paint. This piece was created early in my art therapy journey. In 2021, I made one of the best decisions of my life by deciding that alcohol was no longer something I needed in my life. While painting this, I processed the missed opportunities and lack of growth that choosing alcohol caused. Like being soaked in formaldehyde, I stopped aging in all the wrong ways. Since choosing to no longer alter my mind as a way to feel more comfortable in social settings or use alcohol as a way to (unsuccessfully) avoid my own thoughts and hard feelings, I have grown exponentially. This piece is a reminder of the things that hold us back.