Fairy Floss

Clara has been creating art privately for over 20 years. Fifteen years ago, she experienced an extremely traumatic event that left her with PTSD. Attempting to carry on as normal, her untreated trauma eventually manifested as severe anxiety and depression that lasted for many years.

Throughout this time, continuing to make art gave Clara a sense of purpose and identity amidst the internal chaos. With the unconditional love and support of her husband, along with medical intervention, she has been able to recover from her mental health challenges. This year, Clara finally felt brave enough to share her work with the world—first on Instagram and in local shows, with a website soon to follow.

Follow Clara on Instagram.

This piece started with layering patterns and exploring the colour pink. As the pastel palette evolved, it reminded me of the soft, sugary fairy floss I enjoyed as a child. The embroidered elements are one of my favourite parts of my creative process. I find the slow, deliberate practice of hand stitching my paintings to be almost meditative. I love the subtle textural contrast they provide, whilst also drawing the eye to detailed layers beneath.