"My darling, you do not have to be whole in order to shine" Notebook

Artist: Brandy Fransen

Inspiration: Janie Robles

Brandy Fransen's Artist Statement:

The first time I spoke with Janie, she deeply impressed me with her quiet strength and beautiful resilience. As she described her battle with chondrosarcoma, cancer that develops within the cartilage cells and only affects 600 patients a year, I knew right away that I needed to create something bold that reflected the light I saw in her. Because of her treatments, Janie had to move 500 miles away from home to the closest specialist in Houston, Texas. She underwent countless hours of physical therapy and learned to walk again, despite missing her pelvis. "You see a path when you look back," she said. "Like the light of God carrying me through." She would garner strength by doing things she loves, like gardening. Her favorite flower color is purple, like hydrangeas and lisianthus, which inspired the first layer. She shared with me her favorite quote sent to her by a friend; the image was of a crescent moon that read, "And the moon said to me - My Darling, you do not have to be whole in order to shine" by Nichole McElhaney. I then layered the stars, symbolizing Texas and the stars in the night sky. The drips of bright pink paint and the midnight blue repeat dot pattern reflect the cartilage and the connective tissue that was no longer whole. I cut out hydrangea flowers from a Texas map and pinned them to depict growth and new life. The moon is fragmented, but its bright light is far-reaching, just like Janie's.

Product Description:

This spiral bound notebook includes perfect for jotting thoughts and sketching ideas. Wipe cover gently with a damp cloth if needed.