Into the Wild
Four Sunflowers is a painting I created three years ago that remains one of my favorites—both for the art itself and the story behind it. It began during a particularly difficult week at work, when long hours kept me away from home for several days in a row. By the time I returned each night, the trash area was locked, so I started stacking up the Amazon boxes and junk mail in the corner. This was during the holiday season of 2018, and the growing pile made me realize just how much cardboard and paper we throw away every day.
I decided to give one of those old boxes a second life as a canvas. Around that time, my daughter was also showing her own love for art, and I kept thinking about her future—and how important recycling, upcycling, and reusing are in shaping a better world. Creating something beautiful from discarded materials felt like a way to keep waste out of landfills, encourage sustainable habits, and hopefully bring joy to others.
Many evenings, my daughter and I worked side by side while I painted. It became a special bonding experience, filled with creativity and laughter. As we neared the end, we decided to give the painting away in a week-long social media giveaway, with her helping me create posts and videos. In the end, Four Sunflowers went to m1am1canes, @lissyc10, and their beautiful daughter—a perfect home for a piece born from love, family, and the idea that even the simplest materials can be transformed into something lasting.