'How The Light Gets In' Print

A detailed print of my original painting titled ‘How The Light Gets In’.

Every year for World Mental Health Day, I like to do a new mental health painting. This year’s painting is inspired by the quote, ‘There is a crack in everything - that’s how the light gets in’ by Leonard Cohen. 

I have struggled with anxiety, OCD, and depression since I was a little girl. When I was younger, I used to view my brain as something ugly, something broken, something embarrassing. The process of learning to love myself and my brain for how it works has been long and difficult. When I discovered the quote above, it really opened my mind to viewing my mental health struggles in a different way. 

The concept of Kintsugi ( 金継ぎ) helps me understand that yes, my brain has been broken. It was broken by trauma and horrific acts that permanently altered it. There is nothing I can do to make that brokenness magically disappear, but I do have the ability to repair it. When Kintsugi is used to repair pottery, the pottery is considered even more beautiful and valuable once the gold lacquer has been added. By highlighting the cracks in the pot, the value and beauty increases. Learning to view my own brain this way has been incredibly powerful for me. All of the characteristics I love most about myself are a result of the ways I’ve been broken. My experiences have made me open minded, empathetic, understanding, and tender hearted. I am a better and more well rounded person because of the breakage I endured. That painful experience broke me wide open and allowed so much light in. My continued struggles with mental health have broken me open further and allowed me to blossom.

I hope this painting can remind you that the cracks you feel in your heart and your mind are letting light in. Knowing this doesn’t make the burdens and breakage any less painful in the moment, but you can face them with courage, knowing that they make you who you are. They make you stronger, more open minded, more empathetic, and more understanding. They will become a beautiful part of your story. And one day, out of those cracks of light, you will blossom into exactly who you are meant to be.

I use a beautiful, heavy-weight, acid-free paper for my prints. Prints come unframed and signed by the artist. All of my prints are border-less.

Each print is placed in a clear plastic sleeve to protect from moisture while traveling to you, and mailed in a rigid envelope. See product information below for more details.

Colors may vary due to monitor settings. All sales are final