No Place Like Grandma’s House

Oil & Acrylic Painting by Maggie W.

My grandmother passed away in January. I felt compelled to share what she meant to me, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold myself together enough to speak at her funeral. Instead, I returned to oil painting for the first time in years to create a scene that captures the magical childhood she helped create for me, my cousin, and my sister. I’ve always avoided painting portraits, and I often questioned whether this piece should ever leave my home, since it isn’t perfect. The many hours I spent quietly painting gave me the space to process my grief and reflect. I’ve always loved painting landscapes and nature, but this experience was the first time I’ve felt intrinsically motivated to create a more meaningful kind of art—one that brings a memory to life and allows it to be shared with others.