Hope in Oil Pastels

Abstract

Hope in Oil Pastels was born from a moment. Last summer, my partner and I sat on a bench overlooking Kelowna as the sun slipped down the sky. I had spent so long feeling engulfed by the chaos of life and the world, but in this moment, it felt so far away—somewhere over the distant hills. I realize that it is a privilege to do this, to separate myself from it, even if it is just for a moment. Many people cannot do this. A family of deer settled in around us, so close. The only way we could measure time was through their movements. Otherwise, time did not exist. In this moment, I knew the world was fucked, but I could see a sliver of golden hope on the horizon—my partner. Being with them in this liminal space allowed my body and heart to breathe again. As I looked between the sunset, the deer, and them, I found myself wondering: what if everything is going to be okay?