11/06/2026
'An Insight into the Invisible' 🎨
Gouache on paper, 11/06/2026
I created this piece to express the exhausting reality of being diagnosed with a chronic illness - specifically PoTS - and the hidden burden that comes with it. After receiving my own diagnosis in February, I knew I wanted to create a piece of artwork dedicated to it.
On the surface, you might seem completely fine. So many of these symptoms are entirely invisible to the outside world; they are things you just have to quietly deal with and carry on your own.
The heavy use of blue throughout the piece reflects that isolation. Navigating a chronic illness often feels like a lonely task. You are frequently forced to look up your own condition, research your symptoms, and find ways to manage your own body because answers don't come easily. While the exterior might look calm, underneath are the chaotic, vibrant red lines of adrenaline, pain, and fatigue. Trying to remain positive is incredibly hard when you are constantly balancing the weight of a hidden disability.
I want this painting to raise awareness and, above all, show a community. PoTS affects less than 1% of the population, which can make it feel incredibly isolating—but we are not alone. Because it is a condition that is so often misunderstood, we need to be more knowledgeable about it, both within the medical community and the general public.
I'm sharing this to bring a little bit of the invisible into the light and to connect with others walking this same path. 💙
