From Trust to Canvas: Art Collaboration Journey at My Color Strokes Studio

Some paintings begin with sketches, swatches, and a clear vision. This one began with a bold heart—and an unexpected invitation: “Do whatever you want.”

Jason McBride, a fellow Front Street artist, had it created a striking heart on a massive canvas. When he handed it over, he didn't request updates, ideas, or confirmation of his approval. He simply trusted me to take it wherever it needed to go.

At first, the idea of painting over another artist's work was daunting. But once I started, the fear gave way to discovery. The painting grew into something more than either of us could have planned alone.

The Tree and Its Roots Where the Artist Collaboration Journey Takes Hold

The heart became the foundation of a tree holding three seasons at once: spring, summer, and fall. Its roots reached deep and twisted into the veins of the heart, symbolizing the way life can be tangled, messy, and yet sustaining

Inside those roots, I lettered the name of the painting, Where Roots Remember, along with a phrase that carried me through: “The heart holds what the soul cannot let go.”

Where Roots Remember is written in the tree roots

Some things stay with us forever. No matter how much we try, they become part of who we are, woven into our roots.

The Flowers and the Cycle of Life

On the opposite side of the canvas, flowers tell another story. Beginning as tender buds, they move through bloom, fade into decay, and give way to new growth.

Spanning the flowers from bud to decay, and a fresh start

This cycle mirrors the rhythm of life itself, reminding us that even as one chapter ends, another begins. Sometimes, that change is literal; sometimes, it's figurative. Either way, it's a full circle

Twisted, Tangled, and True

Where Roots Remember is not a painting of perfection. It's a painting of what is real: the twists, the tangles, the losses, and the new beginnings that keep us moving forward

The artist collaboration journey reflects this truth as well. Jason's heart carried one story. My tree and flowers carried another. Together, they became a shared narrative, one that honors the fact that healing and hope are rarely simple or straight.  

Original Painting

Finished Painting

Trust, Healing, and Possibility

The greatest gift of this piece wasn't just the final image. It was the reminder that:

·      Painting can be healing.

·      Collaboration can open new doors.

·      Trusting the process can take you somewhere unexpected.

Standing 5 feet tall by 4 feet wide, Where Roots Remember now carries both of our signatures. It’s finished, varnished, and ready for its next chapter.

Signatures from both artists - Jason McBride and Marlene Steele

Sometimes the heart holds what words can't. Sometimes it remembers what the soul cannot let go. And sometimes, when trust leads the way, a painting can carry it all.

One of the artists proudly stands beside their vibrant debut painting at First Friday, Front Street, showcasing their work outside the studio on September 5, 2025.

Where should Where Roots Remember go next?