Resilient: Frida Kahlo tribute portrait

This piece is a tribute portrait to Frida Kahlo and her resilience through all she endured in her lifetime.

Frida was a Mexican artist from the early 1900’s who endured a lifetime of chronic pain due to having suffered from polio as a child and an really bad accident when she was 18 years old. She pushed through this pain to create her art, often depicting her experience of chronic pain through self portraits. She was described as a surrealist or magical realist. She was a feminist and advocate for gender equality, an activist and was hugely inspired by her countrys folk culture and art. These personality traits resonate deeply with me and was inspired and excited to paint Frida.

At the beginning of each painting session I took some time to meditate and drop down into my heart so that I could trust in the flow and allow what wanted to be seen, to emerge. I feel this piece is a collaboration of sorts between Frida and I, a connection through meditation, the spirit realm and the flow of the paint brush between us both. I was inspired by Frida's diary to show a different style that I don't usually show to the world. Scribbles and symbols, words and magic, all hidden in the layers.

Frida's message to me and mine to her and ours to you: We are resilient!

My tribute portrait was started during an online seminar with Amanda Sage to learn the art of Self portraiture and Portraiture painting and is currently featured in an online exhibition called ‘Tribute to Frida Kahlo: A Vision Train Exhibition’.