Stay Afloat - Chris Washington

Stay Afloat, 2024. Acrylic on canvas. 20" x 20".

"While reading “Where The Wild Things Are” to my son, I got the inspiration behind this piece. The main character sails away on an imaginary boat as he is avoiding his reality after a tantrum. This made me have a thought about navigating life’s troubles as a disabled person. I find that even in the darkness we can find our way. The water being calm, only moving as the boat travels across, represents how calming our emotions can help us to think clearly while combating the issues we face. The paper boat represents how fragile our emotional state can be and still be able to stay afloat. The dark starry sky represents what it feels like when we are searching for guidance in what seems like emptiness. I also painted this with a palette knife to convey a less “perfect” yet complete image. This related to me a lot because it allowed me to think about how I navigate my own emotions living with a disability." -Chris Washington

Chris Washington is a self taught mixed media artist with congenital 6 muscular dystrophy. He has worked with the Muscular Dystrophy Association along with Party For A Cure by donating work to both organizations.

Read Chris's full bio here: Chris Washington