Capturing Love Through Art: A Journey of Healing
The last few months have been a deep and transformative journey, one that has required me to face the weight of grief head-on. Losing my husband, Bo, after 39 years of shared love and life together, has been a loss like no other. Our years together were filled with laughter, companionship, and a love so deep that it permeated every moment we shared. And now, as I try to make sense of a life without him, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the time we had - and for the beautiful family we built together, a family that carries his spirit forward, especially through our three daughters.
In my grief, I sought out a way to reconnect with Bo. It was through drawing - small, portraits. I began using the iPad he once gave me, creating sketches and sharing them on Instagram. The act of drawing became a way for me to express pieces of my heart, to hold onto his presence, and to share my journey with others who might be walking through similar experiences.
But as the months passed, something shifted. The need to explore more, to challenge myself in new ways. That’s when I turned to watercolors.
A New Medium, A New Connection
Watercolor is a struggle for me. Each brushstroke feels uncertain, almost like an obstacle rather than a movement of creation. But, in a strange way, that struggle mirrored my own everyday. Every stroke in the watercolor is a reflection of my own process of healing, my attempts to find peace and understanding in a life that suddenly feels so different and uncertain.
The more I paint, the more I begin to feel connected - not only to the medium itself, but to the memories of Bo. I find myself trying to capture glimpses of him - his expression, his essence, the small details that made him who he was. The act of painting becomes a quiet meditation, a way of revisiting the past without being trapped by it, and a way of embracing the present in all its complexity.
Each watercolor portrait is an attempt to freeze a moment in time, to capture a piece of Bo that might live on in the form of brushstrokes and pigment. But, I realized that this effort is in vain. It’s impossible to capture a whole person, all the intricacies and layers of their being, in a single stroke or painting.
The Beauty of Art
But perhaps that’s the beauty of art itself. Art, in its many forms, allows us to hold onto moments, to preserve feelings, and to honor the parts of life that matter most to us. It’s not about capturing an entire person, but about capturing the essence of them - the way they made us feel, the moments that took our breath away, the laughter, the love, and the quiet moments in between.
Through art, I’ve discovered a way to reconnect with Bo our life together, not by dwelling on the past, but by bringing him with me into the present. Every brushstroke, is a reminder that the love we shared is not gone, but continues to live on in me, in my art, and in the memories I choose to carry with me.
Healing Through Art
This journey has taught me that healing isn’t linear. Some days, I feel connected to the past, to the pain of loss, and on other days, I feel a quiet peace in the present, knowing that I carry a piece of Bo with me in everything I create. Through art, I’ve come to understand that healing isn’t about moving on; it’s about finding new ways to honor what was and continue to grow from it.
Art, for me, has become a way to preserve the love I will always feel for Bo, and to remind myself that this love, though no longer physically present, continues to shape who I am today. With each brushstroke, I get a little closer to understanding how to live fully in this new chapter of life, carrying forward the essence of love that will never fade.
You can see more of my work on my Instagram mariannefrankart :)
Marianne Frank



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