River of Soul Abstract Painting

The Beautiful Mess of Being Human (And Why I Painted It)

Have you ever tried to explain exactly who you are to someone? It’s almost impossible, isn’t it?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how none of us are just one thing. We aren’t just “happy” or “sad,” “good” or “bad.” We’re this wild, tangly mix of everything at once. We have these bright, shining moments right on the surface, but then there are these deep, quiet undercurrents that nobody else sees.

That feeling, that specific, messy complexity is what sparked my latest project.

I wanted to capture the idea that a human soul isn’t a straight line. It’s more like a river made of a thousand different threads, weaving together, diving deep, and resurfacing when you least expect it. It’s about the capacity we all have for lightness and darkness, and the choices we make every single day that steer the current.

Meeting “River of Souls”

This train of thought led to my new diptych (fancy art speak for “two paintings that belong together”), which I’ve named the River of Souls.

I grabbed my acrylics and just let the colors flow on the canvas. I used a dash of deep, moody turquoise clashing against vibrant reds. I think that contrast speaks to the conflicts we all carry inside. I also left little peeks of raw white canvas showing through here and there, because we all have those vulnerable, unpainted spots, right?

If you run your hand over them (gently!), you’ll feel the energy in the brushstrokes. I didn’t want these to be perfectly smooth and flat. Life has texture, so the art should too.

Make It Yours

The coolest part about this set? I designed them to be played with. Since our lives and choices are always shifting, I wanted the art to be flexible, too.

There’s no “wrong way” to hang them.

• Put them side-by-side for a panoramic look.
• Stack them vertically to create a totem pole effect.
• Stagger them at different heights for something eclectic.
• Rotate them until the abstract shapes make sense to you.

You can frame them up if you want that polished look, or just hang the raw canvas on the wall for a more organic, studio vibe. They’re small but mighty! Each one is 8×10 inches, so they fit perfectly in those little nooks that need a splash of soul.

I hope these pieces remind you that it’s okay to be complex. In fact, it’s what makes the picture interesting.