"Desire" by Clair Hartmann

14" x 12"

oil on canvas

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This is one of those paintings that talks back to you. 

I watched a movie the other night called "Facing the Habit" about the struggle of heroin addiction and new (successful) unconventional treatments. I was surprised at the end it said that 9 out of 10 addicts never recover. I don't need to tell you, that's pretty bad odds and another figure they threw out is that 500 new people try heroin everyday. That's pretty sad. 

Well this brings us to this painting. I have always wanted to do a "stacked" painting and I was looking into my file of inspiration (not metaphorically, it's a real file) and pulled out the monkey, dog and orange and thought they looked really well together so I went with it and had a blast painting it. Later, I connected it to the addiction. The monkey is the burden of addiction and the addiction needs to be fed. It'll probably mean different things to everybody, but this is what it means to me. 

Gabe and 14 Years

"Gabe"
10" x 8"
I thought I had posted this, but I don't think I did.

I wanted share something with everybody - I just had a 14 year anniversary of sobriety. 14  1/2 years ago I was a mess I hated myself, I was spiraling out of control and unrecognizable. I decided to stop and change my life for one day -  I would just give it a try. With lots of help and support I was able to turn that one day into 14 years and I have never wanted another drink. My life has grown so much since then, my decisions are clear and I may not make all the right ones, I know they are mine and not made out of desperation. The challenge is always with me, but I think of everything I have gained and know without a doubt it could be lost in an instant of my doing... everything I have worked so hard to achieve.

If you have this struggle, my heart goes out to you. Please know that if I can do it, you can too... just try it for one day - it may change your life.