In 2019, I set my easel beside the window and let soft pastels glide across a sheet of mi‑teintes paper, free from any rules. The experience felt like Appalachian mist curling around my thoughts, turning the act of painting into pure therapy on a tough day.

The ballerina lifts her arm with a lion’s fierce grace, while her flowing pink skirt hums like a gentle lullaby — harmony motion. I captured her ethereal dance with delicate pastel strokes, letting the pigments blend like whispered colors on textured mi‑teintes, creating a mystical, whimsical moment.

Dancing on hard days is like whispering prayers through movement — it’s a reminder that even when life feels heavy, our spirits can still twirl. For me, art became that dance. On tough days, I’d set up my easel, let my feelings flow, and let my worries dissolve into color and texture. The ballerina I created in 2019, with her fierce yet gentle grace, still reminds me that harmony lives in the dance — even when life feels off‑balance.

Subject: The central figure is a ballerina captured in a dynamic, expressive pose, specifically an arabesque—a classic ballet position where the dancer stands on one leg with the other extended behind.

Color Palette: The composition features a vibrant mix of cool blues and teals in the background, contrasting with the warm pinks, purples, and magentas of the dancer’s dress and hair.

Movement and Style: The artist uses fluid, sweeping strokes to create a sense of motion, particularly in the flowing fabric of the dancer’s skirt and the swirling, cloud-like atmosphere surrounding her.

Medium: The soft pastels allow for delicate transitions and a luminous quality, while the texture of the Mi-Teintes paper provides a subtle grain that enhances the painting’s depth.