Painting Depp in his role in "Cry Baby", my favorite of Depp's roles, helped me focus on easing myself through the spaces of the worst of my abuse, which happened when the movie was current, helped me bridge a gap between the flashbacks of my own abuse and the current space where Depp, another survivor doing brave things and speaking out and in which I am safe.  Here, where Depp is acting in defiance of his abuse.  Here, where I am safe to express my own survival story.  Here, in this moment, we are brave together.  When survivors speak out, we are all one step closer to safety.

Painting Heard was cathartic.  I see swarming blacks and reds like lies instead of skin.  I see the monsters usually tagged as cluster B disorders.  I see the abuse.  The arrogance.  The surety that she's safe because she's a woman and he's a man.  Am I speculating?  Of course, I am, but I also paint what I see, and this was my interpretation of what I painted.  I see her humanity like a mask she sheds like snakeskin. I see the monster within, both stony and burning with endless, hungry fire.  I see abuse with eyes.