Description
“Diligence Room” is a deeply personal exploration of my roots. When I traveled to Italy, I explored a lot of enriching towns, but I was most enthralled with Sicily—the birthplace of my heritage on my mother’s side. This painting stands as a dense, complex compilation of the fragments that stayed with me: the abandoned tuna factories, the ancient castle soaring high into the sky, the vibrant modern street graffiti, old signs, historic placards, and the deep, haunting darkness of the catacombs.
The canvas is packed with architectural layers, from the structured church arches down to a pile of skulls nestled in the lower left corner. Right in the center, a series of rolling heads tumble down a stone staircase. Looking back at my creative journey in that moment, I’m still not entirely sure what I was trying to say with them, but they simply felt fitting for the surreal, heavy energy of the piece. (As a side note, the ancient castle staircase in the background is the very same one shown in the photo on my contact page!). Anchored by brilliant oranges, deep teals, and intricate black line work, this artwork bridges the ancient past with the raw present, offering a multi-layered window into the complex soul of Sicily.
This intricate canvas also marks a major turning point for the main character in my children’s book. Within the story layouts, this is the exact scene where Wackadoodle’s dog pack finally decides they want to accept him back into the fold, shifting the narrative from isolation to a true homecoming.