Feeling Freedom by Lara Venes

This self-portrait captures a fleeting moment of happiness, a quiet pause where everything felt calm and light. I drew myself in the back seat of a car, arm out the window, wind on my face. In that moment, I felt completely free. It was during a difficult time in my life, and that simple act reminded me how small moments can bring a sense of peace that cuts through the noise.

The charcoal medium reflects that at first glance, life can seem black and white, full of sharp contrast. But beneath that are soft tones, movement, and emotion. I used gentle shading to bring out the warmth in the memory. We often focus on what’s going wrong, forgetting the moments that bring us joy. This work is a way of holding on to one of those moments: a personal reminder that even in hard times, there are seconds of stillness that stay with us.