Through Purple Eyes: Portraits of Resilience and Courage
Some stories are not meant to be rushed.
Some experiences ask to be approached slowly, with care, trust, and intention.
Through Purple Eyes: Portraits of Resilience and Courage is an ongoing artist portrait project created to honor resilience, courage, and the quiet strength found on the other side of domestic abuse — whether physical, emotional, or psychological.
This project exists outside the boundaries of traditional studio sessions. It is not about perfection, posing, or performance. Instead, it is about presence. About being seen on your own terms.
Where Strength and Softness Meet
Domestic abuse is powerful, complex, and often invisible. Its impact is not always something you can point to or explain, yet it lives deeply in the body, the mind, and the quiet spaces in between. Survivors carry an incredible resilience — one that is strong, but also deeply delicate.
This project is close to my heart because it honors that balance. The courage it takes to survive, and the tenderness that remains afterward. Through Purple Eyes was created as a way to capture more than what is seen — to hold space for stories that deserve patience, dignity, and care, and to reflect the strength that exists even in softness.
An Artist Project Rooted in Care
Through Purple Eyes was created as a space where portraiture becomes something deeper than an image. Each session is guided by comfort, consent, and emotional readiness. There is no expectation to perform, explain, or share more than feels right.
No two sessions will ever look the same.
Some portraits may feel expressive and bold. Others may be quiet, minimal, or deeply personal. Every approach is valid. Every experience is shaped by the individual story behind it.
This project is photographed gradually throughout the year, allowing space for reflection, intention, and care — for both the subject and the art itself.
Invitation, Not Obligation
Participation in Through Purple Eyes is invitation-only. Individuals are not booked into the project; they are invited into it.
If invited to participate, there is no charge for the portrait session. As a thank you, each participant will receive a gifted 8×10 fine art print following their session. Additional artwork may be available for purchase, should the participant wish, but there is no purchase requirement of any kind.
All conversations, stories, and details shared throughout the application and consultation process remain confidential within the studio. Participants retain full control over how — or if — their images or stories are ever shared publicly.
Privacy is not a feature of this project. It is a foundation.
A Portrait Experience Shaped by You
Once an application is submitted, participants will receive a consultation scheduler to reserve time to meet with the artist. This meeting is a gentle conversation — an opportunity to share as much or as little of your story as you wish.
Together, you’ll determine:
What story you want told through your portrait
How the session should feel
When the session should take place
Sessions are designed to move at your pace. There is no pressure to rush, and no expectation to revisit details you’re not ready to share.
More Than an Image
The goal of Through Purple Eyes is not only to create meaningful artwork, but to offer a safe, affirming experience — one where participants are seen with dignity, autonomy, and care.
This project is a reminder that resilience does not always look loud or dramatic. Sometimes it looks quiet. Sometimes it looks like stillness. Sometimes it looks like simply showing up.
All of it matters.
Interested in Learning More?
If this project speaks to you, or if you’d like to learn more about the intention behind Through Purple Eyes, you’re invited to explore the project page and submit an inquiry. All communication remains confidential, and every submission is handled with care.