For years now I have wanted to do a painting for my mom that represented the very meaning of a mother to me. So when I began this painting I placed on the background 3 symbols for my mom, one is in the upper left and it is a faded version of the signature she has signed her art with since I was born, the second is in the upper right and it is a flat line that begins to spike representing that she created my very life, the third is on the right center and it is my representation of one side of a dna strand…only my moms side. Then as I embarked on the flower I picked one I have painted before that spoke to me as the representation of a mother and that is a rose, the very symbol of love. In mythology red roses symbolize an immortal love or a union that will never fade – even through time or death and that is exactly what a mothers love is. I decided to do a fully opened and blooming rose to show that a mother has so much wisdom, love and strength and the older a child gets the more a mother will open up and share that love, stength, and wisdom, just as a rose that is blooming will keep opening up to show more beauty within. The rose I painted also posses power and strength which is shown by the thorns down its stem, a mother although beautiful and tender also must posses this strength to protect and to withstand this world for thier child so that is why I put thorns on this beautiful rose. My mother has all these qualities and much more, she raised me all alone, always showed me unfaltering love, and she embodied the strength of thorns to protect me and make an incredible life for me. I have never done a painting with so much meaning to me, it speaks to me and reminds me of the unbreakable bond and undying love that a child and a mother share. Although I am not a mother yet I know it is the hardest job out there but if I have just half the motherly qualities that my mom posesses I will be just fine. When I was young and someone would tell me I was like my mom I would be childishly awkard about it but now I am proud and look at it as an honor to be told I am like my mother in anyway. In life there are usually a handful of things someone is most proud to be and forever one of the things I am most proud of is that I am my mothers daughter. I hold that title with honor. My mother will always be my teacher, greatest adviser, best friend, and most importantly my inspiration.