Tender, Love, and Care 2021

Kayla Mahaffey's 'Tender, Love, and Care' unfolds like a vibrant dream, probably made with acrylics and a whole lotta heart. Imagine Mahaffey layering those colors, each stroke a step further into this beautiful vision. There's this incredible, almost surreal, quality in the way she’s built up the image. The birds, butterflies, and blooms feel like thoughts taking flight, circling around the child, adding extra layers to the story, and inviting you to interpret her emotional world. It's like she’s painting straight from her feelings, transforming them into something we can see and feel too. It reminds me of how artists like Toyin Ojih Odutola use color and form to convey complex narratives. It's about more than just what's on the surface. It's about digging deep and sharing what you find. Paintings like this remind us that art is a conversation, an invitation to see the world in new ways, and to find those unexpected connections that make life a little more magical.