In an attempt to celebrate the empowered and resilient women in my life, I depict them as inherently one with their colorful environments. Through sinewy lines emerging from distinct color fields, the women claim their sexuality and internal power. My work explores feminine strength and beauty through portraiture. By using old family photographs and vintage advertisements as points of departure, I produce colorful narratives that explore gender roles through my personal history. In doing so, I aim to depict strong women I know and admire. By specifically exploring motherhood in this body of work, I attempt to show a darker complexity than is often given to maternal figures. In painting life size women, with vibrant colors I highlight the psychological relationship of my characters to one another and to the viewer.