Laura James

“Never Give Up”

From: Warsaw, NY

About this piece: This piece was created from original artwork designed by my student, Sara Gray. Sara was a talented artist and truly shined when she was creating. She was able to make mandalas right from her head and was remarkably good at them. Each of Sara’s breathtaking designs were unique, intricate, and precise. This mandala design in particular was one that Sara created in my printmaking class, so it meant a lot to me to recreate the design into a painting and add Sara’s mantra, “Never Give Up.” I am honored that Sara’s mother, Christina Gray, shared this journey with me and welcomed me to create a piece for the trail in honor of Sara. Sara had a beautiful, caring heart and I treasure the time we spent together making art and getting to know one another. I know Sara was with me while I was working on this painting, so this piece is a reflection of her beauty, talent, and heart.