Against the Current- Original Painting by Leah Nadeau

DESCRIPTION: Against the Current is 10 x 20" acrylic on canvas, wired and ready to hang on your wall. SERIES: Phase Shift INSPIRATION: Against the Current grew out of seeing Tame Impala in concert recently and wanting to carry something of that experience onto canvas. The music stayed with me, especially as I’ve been thinking about change, getting older, and how to move forward without feeling like I’m leaving part of myself behind. Lately, seeing childhood photos of myself has brought up an unexpected grief. I miss that little girl. I see her joy, her sensitivity, and the way she noticed things other people missed. Sometimes aging feels like putting more distance between us, even as I’m trying to understand and embrace her. Painting gives us somewhere to meet. In this piece, I let more of the background remain visible than I usually do. That felt vulnerable. I often keep adding shapes and lines, covering the first layers until they feel protected. This time, I tried to leave room for what was already there. The title holds that tension for me. I want to embrace who I’m becoming, but I also feel a pull against the idea that growing up means outgrowing the girl I was. Her curiosity, weirdness, and joy still belong in my life. Against the Current is my attempt to get back to her.