By Nicole Smith

Watercolor, gouache, ink, and color pencils on watercolor paper

18x 24in

2020

To make this piece, I referenced a picture of my mother when she was younger. In order to reflect the worries that she has to deal with in the present day, I added various objects sticking out of her head. For instance, the three black hands represent my sister, my step-father, and myself, as she centers her daily routine on any necessities we may have. Because of that, she always worries about money, which seems to fly...Overall, while she seems like an unbreakable dome of resilience, she carries with her multiple burdens, which become heavier as time goes by. Despite that, she still finds time to smile for us.