There is your home, where your dog is
I can’t believe I finally finished this painting. It’s been a long journey—over a year, in fact. When I started it in 2024, I meant it as a thank-you to the Cara community for all the support I’ve received there. But life, as it often does, got in the way.
Painting with an AuADHD Brain
For me, art isn’t a constant flow—it comes and goes. Sometimes, I feel an itch in my brain or hands, a restless need to create. Other times, that feeling just vanishes, and I lose both the want and the need to paint. If a project takes too long, my brain decides, Nope, I can’t do this anymore, and for my own sanity, I have to stop. Sometimes, I switch to something else. Other times, I drop creating altogether until that need resurfaces.
But when I take a long break from painting, coming back isn’t always easy. Even when I want to, there’s this strange weight—something between regret and guilt—that actually stops me from picking up the brush. I look at unfinished works, and it almost hurts my brain to see them waiting there. It’s like I failed them somehow. And that feeling can linger for months, keeping me from painting at all.
Eventually, though, the need to create grows stronger than the regret, and I break through. That’s what happened with this painting. A new year, new motivation, and a surprising push—I was given the opportunity to showcase my work in a local cultural center. That was the spark I needed to finally bring this piece to life.
The Meaning Behind the Painting
From the beginning, I knew I wanted to digitally add a thank-you message for the Cara community. But for the original painting, I wanted something meaningful—something about dogs. After a long brainstorming session (and multiple discussions with various people), I finally landed on the perfect words:
“Tam dom Twój, gdzie pies Twój”—which translates to “There is your home, where your dog is.”
This is a twist on a well-known Polish phrase: “Tam dom Twój, gdzie serce Twoje”—“There is your home, where your heart is.” The idea behind it is that a home isn’t just a physical place; it’s made up of the things and beings we love. And for me, dogs have always been part of that. A house without a dog just doesn’t feel quite like home.
So, along with this painting, here’s a little piece of my heart and some insight into the strange, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding process that got me here.
Also—adopt, don’t shop! ❤️
