My Dad passed away on September 9th, 2021.  My Daughter, who was only 4 at the time, had to learn very fast what happened to her best friend.  She would often talk about how she would meet her grandaddy in her dreams and how they would talk and laugh while he held her. He'd give her a tight hug she calls "a grandaddy hug" because he was the one to give those to her, and she would relay that her grandaddy would ask her to pass that onto me.  I always thought that was a beautiful way to help ease her into understanding the spirit world, which in return reminded me of how my pops would always be around spiritually.  And in my experiences of seeing my dad in my dreams were always hoping it'd be a long dream or something I could go back to if I got awakened too early, but everyone who mourns someone, gets that that's not how it works..
 
I created this drawing based off those dreams and feelings.  This painting depicts a mother who fell asleep with her daughter, and in the daughters dreams is where she meets with her grandma so they may talk and laugh the same way they did when she was alive.  The milky way is shown in the starry night, where it is said our loved ones go on their journeys.  And dragonflies, to represent the ability to shift between the spirit world and our world.
It hurts, but we must remember the small reminders of their love, and how it can sometimes come from our children/loved ones.  
Grieve gently..
 
-Antique Ledger paper 8x5
-Archival ink
-Water color pencils
-Gouache paint
-Protective coating of UV light deflection sealant