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I created this piece using 6 layers of different mixtures of acrylic paint mixed with Floetrol, used colored powdered that show up under a black light, torn up spray painted foil, and ink drops. I used a palette knife to dig deep into the dried layers, then peeled back parts of the center to mirror the wounds caused by war. It’s not the prettiest piece I’ve ever made but it is one with raw emotion. Finally, I sealed it with an acrylic sealer and clear mod podge. The result is a colorful, muddy, and multi-textured canvas that speaks to the horror I feel when I read about atrocities around the world. It sparks in me a call to action, to protest and contact those in power and send letters to those feeling apathy. We are all in this together.

Megan Hale is a 36-year-old artist living in Peoria, Illinois. A dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., she lives with her life partner and has a deep love for film, especially horror. "For me, painting is therapy. It's way to process my trauma, recovery, fear, hope, shame, anger, and joy. My art evolves as I heal, and I heal as I create. Sometimes, it feels like breaking through a black-painted window into a world of broken glass. It still cuts, but I'm free. The wounds are healing. I paint to stay grounded, to give my emotions a voice. When I paints, I hears color and see sound. It’s overwhelming and beautiful. A way to feel and process everything at once.