05/28/2026
The lotus flower,
Brief upon the water,
Creates ripples in the pond
Expanding outward, touching lives unseen.
The flower slowly fades
But the ripples remain,
Shaping a world it will never see.
The Ripples Remain
Oil on 16 inch round canvas
Available at Flowers for Alice show beginning May 30, 2026
I felt compelled to paint this lotus flower in a rippling pond and at first I wasn't quite sure why. Then one day as I was reflecting on the painting, the purpose hit me. We are like the lotus flower: beautiful but ever changing and finite. We’re here but for a moment in time, and then one day we're gone. However, the ripples our lives create, like ripples on a calm lake, will continue to echo for years to come. Each action we take has an effect, whether we see or not. It’s like the idea of the butterfly effect- one small thing we do in our life affects countless others, and on and on.
I knew this painting was perfect for the Flowers for Alice show honoring the life of Alice Kwiatkowski. I got to see first hand some of the ripples Alice created when I worked with her KidsPeace. I know she left so many positive reverberations in the universe which continue to have effects on countless lives, and will continue to do so long into the future.
I hope this painting can be a gentle reminder of the fleeting beauty of our precious lives, and the effects each of us have even after death. For me, as I worked on this piece and reflected on its meaning, I caught myself being mindful throughout my day what ripples I was putting out into the world. Simple acts like a smile and "hello," or picking up a piece of trash, somehow feel more profound with this viewpoint.
