Bittersweet Print

“Bittersweet” - 8.5”x14” Print of my original painting with watercolour and soft pastel

A bold watercolor and soft pastel interpretation of mortality and renewal, emerging from a period of profound personal transition. The detailed skull, rendered through fluid blue watercolor washes, confronts viewers with life’s ultimate truth, while blooming roses in vibrant reds and oranges - built up with rich, layered pastels - represent the beauty that can flourish even in our darkest moments.

The title “Bittersweet” perfectly captures this piece’s emotional complexity - the simultaneous presence of sorrow and joy, death and life, endings and beginnings. As the final piece in this transitional series, it reveals yet another facet of personal transformation, reminding us that growth comes in phases and rarely follows a linear path. Some days we feel the weight of our mortality and hidden struggles more acutely; others, we glimpse the roses blooming despite it all.

Born from the recognition that transitions aren’t neat progressions but rather cyclical journeys with setbacks and breakthroughs, this work embodies the non-linear nature of healing and change. The interplay between watercolor’s transparency and pastel’s opacity creates stunning visual depth that mirrors how we move through different emotional landscapes - sometimes fluid and uncertain, sometimes bold and defined.

The roses don’t deny death’s presence - they bloom alongside it with fierce beauty, representing how we can hold multiple truths simultaneously during times of change. This piece invites viewers to embrace the bittersweet nature of growth itself - recognizing that transformation is rarely a straight line, but rather a spiral that revisits familiar themes with new understanding.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​