There’s Happiness in There, Somewhere

This piece started as an older painting—layers of reds, blues, and pinks from a different time. Instead of starting fresh, I painted directly on top of it, letting the old work show through in places while covering most of it in yellow.

I didn’t have a clear plan. I mostly zoned out and followed instinct.

The words that surfaced—“There’s happiness in there, somewhere”—felt less like a statement and more like a reminder. Not something I fully believe all the time, but something I want to hold onto.

Living with fibromyalgia has a way of pulling my body and mind in directions I don’t always choose. This painting wasn’t about fixing that or explaining it. It was about expressing how I’d like to feel anyway—light, open, hopeful—even when things feel heavy.

Sometimes the happiness isn’t obvious.
But maybe it’s still in there.
Somewhere.