16x20 Pastel on Paper

Artist's Note: While I was working with this survivor, she explained to me how the domestic violence her mother and she and her siblings suffered were known in the community, but considered normal. "Spare the rod, spoil the child," was the type of parenting in her time. The child cupped in the hand of nurturing was taken from her baby picture. She is a testament of amazing personal power to control and manage her own personal worries about parenting and living the wonderful life she deserves.