Hope
2025 Acrylic on Canvas 58 x 75 cm (Impasto technique / Texture)
I painted Hope to remind myself not to lose faith in times of despair.
In May 2025, my sweet cat Moonia crossed over into the spirit realm. She was my very first cat, and our bond did not form overnight—it took time, patience, and care before she finally opened her heart to me. But once she did, she showed me so much love. She was the first cat I ever learned to hold properly, and the first animal who taught me that animals feel emotions just as deeply as we do. I shall never forget the day I had a terrible migraine—she curled up next to my head, purring softly. Eventually, she got up and walked away… and somehow, the pain went with her. She did that more than once. Because of her, I truly believe cats possess a quiet kind of magic. They are healers, in their own way. And Moonia—she was my own personal healer, and a teacher too, because I learned so much from her.
Making the decision to put her to sleep was one of the most painful moments of my life. My mind was flooded with unanswerable questions, and I sank into deep grief. I felt as though all hope had left me. In that darkness, I prayed for guidance. And slowly, an insight emerged: perhaps I should paint hope. So I did.
The dove is a symbol of peace—a quiet reminder that, no matter what unfolds in the world or within me, I must keep believing in peace, and offer my part with love, mindful intention, and conscious action.
The hands, joined at the heart’s centre, speak of unity and compassion—a symbol of a shared vision, where peace begins from within and flows outward into the world.
As the late, beloved activist Jane Goodall said in her parting message to us, 'We must not lose hope in dark times."
May this painting offer a spark of light to those seeking hope in moments of darkness.
In May 2025, my sweet cat Moonia crossed over into the spirit realm. She was my very first cat, and our bond did not form overnight—it took time, patience, and care before she finally opened her heart to me. But once she did, she showed me so much love. She was the first cat I ever learned to hold properly, and the first animal who taught me that animals feel emotions just as deeply as we do. I shall never forget the day I had a terrible migraine—she curled up next to my head, purring softly. Eventually, she got up and walked away… and somehow, the pain went with her. She did that more than once. Because of her, I truly believe cats possess a quiet kind of magic. They are healers, in their own way. And Moonia—she was my own personal healer, and a teacher too, because I learned so much from her.
Making the decision to put her to sleep was one of the most painful moments of my life. My mind was flooded with unanswerable questions, and I sank into deep grief. I felt as though all hope had left me. In that darkness, I prayed for guidance. And slowly, an insight emerged: perhaps I should paint hope. So I did.
The dove is a symbol of peace—a quiet reminder that, no matter what unfolds in the world or within me, I must keep believing in peace, and offer my part with love, mindful intention, and conscious action.
The hands, joined at the heart’s centre, speak of unity and compassion—a symbol of a shared vision, where peace begins from within and flows outward into the world.
As the late, beloved activist Jane Goodall said in her parting message to us, 'We must not lose hope in dark times."
May this painting offer a spark of light to those seeking hope in moments of darkness.
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