Depression is the stage where everything settles into a kind of stillness. After the resistance, the bargaining, and the attempts to escape, there is nothing left to do but feel what is there.

This painting was meant to be more self-explanatory, less about action and more about presence. The subject lies in a confined, dimly lit space, surrounded by darkness. There is no movement, no attempt to change what is happening.

The crows resting around her symbolize this state of being, of sitting with something heavy without trying to fix it or push it away. They are not attacking or leaving; they simply exist alongside her, mirroring the weight of the emotion itself.

The use of deep reds and shadows emphasizes the heaviness of this stage, while the enclosed space reflects the feeling of being stuck within it. This piece is about allowing the darkness to exist, rather than trying to escape it.

Beyond my own connection to crows, their presence in this piece symbolizes the act of simply being with a heavy emotion. I have always been drawn to them, their intelligence and watchfulness, and I often find myself forming quiet, familiar relationships with them wherever I go. They feel observant rather than intrusive, present without demanding anything.

In this piece, they represent sitting with the darkness and allowing it to exist, rather than trying to change it. They are not threatening or urgent, they simply remain.

This stage, to me, feels less like something happening and more like something settling. There is no urgency, only weight. That is what I wanted the painting to reflect. I wanted that feeling to be immediately recognizable, something most people can quietly empathize with.