From the What Songs Make Me Feel series

Inspired by: [I Like How I Look] — [Jessie Murph]

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 007 • The Listening Room

WHAT I SAW

THE WOMAN
I saw her choosing to move closer. There’s confidence in the way she stands beside him, with her hand near his neck. I wanted her to feel comfortable showing that she wants his attention.

THE MAN
I wanted him seated, looking up at her, with his arm around her waist. He’s meeting her closeness with his own. Their pose holds that quiet understanding when two people both want to stay in the moment.

THE MIRROR
I chose to show their closeness again in the mirror. It gives the moment another place to exist in the painting, almost like the feeling is lingering around them. I wanted that repeated image to connect with the title—the idea that a little of someone stays with you.

THE FABRIC AND COLOR
The burgundy in her top and the fabric around his shoulders connect them visually. Her flowing mustard clothing brings movement into the scene. I wanted the colors to carry the warmth and confidence I felt in the song.

THE ROOM
I pictured an ordinary room because this kind of moment doesn’t need a special setting. Someone looks up, someone moves closer, and suddenly whatever they were doing can wait. That small pause was what I wanted to paint.

A Little Of Me On You
PagesArt Mail 007 • What Songs Make Me Feel

— Brooke