A Paired Meditation on Balance and Presence

A Paired Meditation on Balance and Presence
Confidence isn’t always recognized or identified ~ but it’s within each of us.
It’s built quietly within us, enough for that day. It’s marked by time and held together by trust ~ in process, in patience, and in the steady choice to take life as it comes ~ a choice that brings strength and joy.
The Work, One Day at a Time
Hold Your Head Up and Keep Your Head Up emerged through a process of steady attention ~ painting intuitively without plan or reference. Each painting developed through layers of gesture, pause, and response ~ marks were added, softened, adjusted, and allowed to settle. The work unfolded through daily engagement, trusting what could be done in the moment rather than pushing toward an end.
The surfaces carry that rhythm. Shapes rise and recalibrate. Color gathers, loosens, and finds its footing. There is movement here, but it remains grounded ~ held in balance rather than momentum.
Presence Over Progress
These paintings are not instructions or affirmations. They don’t reach outward or insist on meaning. Instead, they hold space ~ they acknowledge motion while remaining upright and composed.
Their confidence is quiet and lived-in. It rests in consistency, in showing up again, and in allowing the work to remain open. The paintings offer a sense of steadiness that doesn’t demand attention but rewards it.

55x36x1.5″

55x36x1.5″
Made to Hold Space
Both works were completed flat on the studio wall and professionally stretched after completion, allowing the painted surface to wrap continuously around the edges. This preserves uninterrupted mark-making, elevates the materials, and creates a deep, infinity-edge finish that feels resolved without framing.

Ready to Hang
The paintings are ready to hang and well suited for spaces where balance matters, including:
- Living areas that benefit from grounded energy
- Bedrooms and private spaces meant for rest and reflection
- Studios or workspaces that support focus and clarity
- Transitional spaces ~ hallways, stairwells, landings—that invite pause
Each work holds its own presence; together, they establish a composed visual rhythm that anchors a room without dominating it.
Details & Availability
Hold Your Head Up
Original acrylic on canvas
Professionally stretched with fully painted, infinity-edge sides
Available individually ~ $3,200
Keep Your Head Up
Original acrylic on canvas
Professionally stretched with fully painted, infinity-edge sides
Available individually ~ $3,200
*Preferential pricing is available when acquired as a pair.
In closing…
The layered color and marks hold memory and momentum at once ~ carrying yesterday’s lessons and tomorrow’s sweet dreams, while they stay grounded in the present and remain open to possibility.
Melissa Lea
Marie Florence Designs
