Stella is not a quiet painting. She stands tall, loud, self-assured and unapologetic. A little sass, a little style, and entirely her own.
As I painted her, I felt she carried the energy of someone who refuses to shrink: bold, protective, and unwavering. In my mind she became almost regal, a watchful presence with nothing to prove and everything to give.
Her name means “light,” and that feels important to me. Stella was inspired by a heron who visited our neighbour each day when we lived in Stella Gardens in Ringsend during Covid. He would feed her sardines, and she would wait patiently steady, dignified, and certain. Even now, living near the canals, herons are constant companions on my walks. They appear in fog and sunshine, watchful and composed, as if quietly witnessing the rhythm of our lives.
To me, she represents constancy; the people and moments that remain steady through change. She is strength without noise, presence without demand. A reminder that even in shifting seasons, there is always something (or someone) holding light for us.
As with all my pieces, she is accompanied by a poem:
“Through silent waters, steady and true, a watchful presence seeing me through. In fog and sunlight, constant and near, a quiet reminder you were always here.”
Additional Info Below
Stella is not a quiet painting. She stands tall, loud, self-assured and unapologetic. A little sass, a little style, and entirely her own.
As I painted her, I felt she carried the energy of someone who refuses to shrink: bold, protective, and unwavering. In my mind she became almost regal, a watchful presence with nothing to prove and everything to give.
Her name means “light,” and that feels important to me. Stella was inspired by a heron who visited our neighbour each day when we lived in Stella Gardens in Ringsend during Covid. He would feed her sardines, and she would wait patiently steady, dignified, and certain. Even now, living near the canals, herons are constant companions on my walks. They appear in fog and sunshine, watchful and composed, as if quietly witnessing the rhythm of our lives.
To me, she represents constancy; the people and moments that remain steady through change. She is strength without noise, presence without demand. A reminder that even in shifting seasons, there is always something (or someone) holding light for us.
As with all my pieces, she is accompanied by a poem:
“Through silent waters, steady and true, a watchful presence seeing me through. In fog and sunlight, constant and near, a quiet reminder you were always here.”
Additional Info Below
