Artist Statement:
I got the vision of this painting last summer. It took me over a year to bring it to life. When I was on my way to pick up this canvas, it took me 45 minutes to get to Hobby Lobby when it should have taken me 5 minutes. There was a lot of road construction and every time I turned down a road, there was a “Detour” sign. I know Rochester like the back of my hand and I was actively getting frustrated because it was like God was giving me temporary insanity - whilst on the verge of loosing my mind LOL.
I decided to let go and just go with the flow because sometimes a slight ‘hiccup’ or delay in plans could potentially save your life. I heard my mom in the back of my mind - “Ty, everything happens for a reason”.
I finally got to the store and picked out the canvas. At this point last year, it was the start of one of the hardest financial seasons I have been through as a small business owner/creative. I had no idea what was to come in the next 8 months.
It was a wilderness season. I lost friends, cut people out my life and hit one of the lowest points I had ever been in. It was a time where I learned rock bottom had a basement. It was lonely, isolating, and it felt like no one was on the ocean to throw a lifeboat my way.
It was a situation where I could either choose to sink or swim. I did everything I could to make ends meet and not loose everything that I have worked so hard to build. I did Uber Eats, Instacart and DoorDash. In the middle of all of this, I learned that my car had an oil leak and the tread was wearing funny on one of the tires. Bills were piling up, my internet was shut off for months, my gas almost got shut off (thank God I was home), and my credit score tanked. There was a time where I was eating Ramen noodles and skipping meals to save money. I could write a novel on the sh*t that happened. It was hell. I’ve done everything I could to build the life I have and chase after my dreams, and I felt like I was a failure.
The irony of this painting is that I had the vision and the name of it picked out before I even started creating it. I wanted to paint a biblical seraphim angel - God’s highest ranking angels.
Maybe I did go through hell and maybe it did feel like the walls were closing in, but I learned a lot about myself. I learned who the real people were in my life because there a handful that reached in to offer support when they learned I was drowning - while others ‘showed’ support on social media & judged/stabbed me in the back. This season of life almost broke me, but I kept going. Sometimes seasons like this change us for the better.
It taught me what was truly important. Sometimes God will humble your a$$ before the blessing. It’s not fun and it’s okay to say that something sucks.
Maybe you are reading this and you see yourself somewhere in these words. Things do get better and when you’re standing on the other side - it’s pretty f*cking beautiful ☀️
This is called “Detour” 🔥🪽
24” x 36”
Over 80 hours was invested into this piece.
A clear semi-gloss varnish was used to protect this piece.
This original painting comes with a signed certificate of authenticity by the artist.