From the What Songs Make Me Feel series

Inspired by: [She Will Be Loved] — [Maroon 5]

Listening to "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 stirred deep reflections within me about the complexity of caring for someone who struggles to see their own worth. It's heartbreaking to witness someone you cherish not recognize their beauty or value. We can tell them they’re beautiful. We can remind them they are deserving of love and reflect the good we see in them. Yet, despite our words, it doesn’t guarantee they’ll believe it. This is where the image of a mirror comes to mind. I envision a woman sitting near it, close enough to glimpse her own reflection but unable to see the beauty that others perceive. Then I imagine someone stepping into her life—not with the intent to fix her or to change her beliefs about herself, but simply to be there. Their presence is a gentle reminder that perhaps, over time, she might start to see herself as he does. That's why I chose to represent this with an umbrella. It symbolizes the quiet strength of someone trying to shield another from the storms of life—though it doesn’t make the rain go away, it offers a place to stand while the rain continues to fall. In many ways, love functions like that. We can’t always remove someone’s pain or force them to change how they see themselves. We can’t love away every insecurity, but we can be present. We can continue to remind them of their worth, to support them as they navigate their journey. I wanted the painting to reflect a sense of realism; I didn’t want it to end with her suddenly seeing everything differently in the mirror. Life doesn’t always work that way. He’s there beside her, she’s still seated with her struggles, and the mirror remains unchanged. But now, that space is shared with someone who already sees the beauty she’s trying to uncover. That’s why I named it "Until You See It Too." It beautifully captures the truth that sometimes, someone can see the wonderful things in you long before you come to recognize them yourself.

— Brooke
PagesArt Mail 006 • The Listening Room

WHAT I SAW

THE WOMAN

I wanted her seated because this isn't a moment when she suddenly overcomes everything. She's still in it. Someone showing up for you doesn't automatically change the way you see yourself.

THE MIRROR

The mirror became one of the biggest parts of the painting for me. She can see herself physically, but that doesn't mean she sees herself clearly. Sometimes the hardest person to convince of your worth is you.

THE MAN

I didn't see him arriving as someone coming to save her. I saw him as someone who keeps showing up. There's a difference. He can't do the work for her, but he can be there while she does it.

THE UMBRELLA

The umbrella doesn't stop the storm. It only gives someone a little protection while they're standing in it. That's what I wanted his presence to feel like.

THE DISTANCE

I didn't want them already wrapped around each other. He's arriving while she's still beside the mirror because the painting isn't really about finally being loved.

Until You See It Too
PagesArt Mail 006 • What Songs Make Me Feel

— Brooke