Happiness is to Hold Flowers in Both Hands is a visual meditation on ephemeral beauty, presence, and inner peace, inspired by the timeless wisdom of Japanese philosophy and the symbolism of the sakura, the cherry blossom.
In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms represent the transience of life—how everything, no matter how beautiful, is temporary. But instead of this being sad, it’s an invitation to presence. To hold joy and impermanence together. To open both hands, not to grasp or cling, but to receive with grace.
While painting this piece, I was deeply moved by a Japanese proverb:
"Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands."
A reminder that happiness isn’t something to chase or earn, but something to feel in the moment—through softness, simplicity, and connection.
Each brushstroke is an offering.
The flowers aren’t fixed or preserved—they are dancing, fleeting, alive.
They speak to that part of us that longs to slow down, breathe, and simply be.
The delicate balance of color and space in this artwork mirrors the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi—the beauty found in imperfection, impermanence, and humility.
This painting invites you to:
🌸 Pause.
🌸 Hold joy lightly, but fully.
🌸 Remember that beauty often whispers, it doesn’t shout.
🌸 Live with both hands open.
Because happiness is not something distant or grand.
It’s here. Now.
As simple—and as profound—as holding flowers in both hands.
