Held and Moving Forward
A painting about family, faith, and the road ahead.
48" x 48" — acrylic & gold leaf on wood
The Story
Steady. Honest. Hopeful.
The kind of strength that keeps going.
At the centre is the daisy —
simple, open, true.
Rooted in who you are,
and who you are still becoming.
The butterfly wing lifts beside it,
holding growth,
healing,
and trust finding its way back.
And within the wing, the quiet sign of the
loggerhead turtle — carried close.
The road moves forward, too —
winding west,
carrying the miles,
the memories,
and what comes next.
And at the edge of it,
the colours of Dolly’s coat —
stitched from many chapters,
held together,
still part of the way forward.
And around it,
the gold arc —
your family,
holding you,
still close,
still there.
The marigolds,
bright and familiar —
your dad’s humour,
his love,
always finding its way back.
The mountains and water hold the rest —
the Smokies,
your place to breathe,
to steady yourself,
to begin again.
This piece does not hold every chapter.
Only what stays —
family,
faith,
forward motion.
Not your portrait.
Your spirit.
The love that holds you.
The road ahead.
Held and Moving Forward.
How It Was Painted
Painted on a 48" × 48" natural wood panel with artist-grade acrylics, 24k gold leaf, and archival varnish.
Hand-painted slowly — layer by layer — so the story becomes part of the wood.
What’s Woven In
Every detail in this piece carries meaning — woven together through family, faith, and forward motion.
Daisy: Stacy at the centre — honest, grounded, and hopeful
Butterfly wing: growth, healing, and trust finding its way back
Loggerhead turtle: a quiet sign that her hopes are heard
Winding road: journeys with her mum, and the road ahead
Dolly’s coat of many colours: life’s chapters stitched together and carried forward
Gold arc: family, holding her still close
Marigolds: her dad’s humour and love, always finding
their way back
How It Came Together
From first sketch to gold leaf and final detail.
