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On Thursday, January 22, my friend SharmaRay passed away.

I last saw her on the 12th. We shared a most lovely visit filled with laughter, stories, and so much love that I swear I turned pink.

Last May, I went to her home and painted her portrait outside while we talked. I also managed a quick sketch of her Pink Palace. I wanted to paint her in all her pinkness and redness, with her pink car and her Pink Palace, a place made for pampering and celebration. I wanted to capture the essence of all that she breathed and exuded. I wanted to turn pink myself. I wanted to gather her up in paint and canvas so I could remember how to be joyous, lovely, gentle, and kind. To care for myself. To celebrate myself and all women and girls and persons.

SharmaRay's wall of Fame

Not long after that day, she shared that she was not well and would be embarking on a journey of alternative healing. I wished with all my heart that the outpouring of love surrounding her would return to her as miraculous healing. I truly believed it could. I believed she would still be with us.

On Wednesday, I painted at her burial.

I painted her surrounded by love flowing back toward her, standing at the threshold of her portal as she returned to the earth. This is how SharmaRay wanted it. Let us celebrate. Let us remember. Let us honor her, her way.

She was carried in wrapped in a deep red shroud and gently laid across the boards that held her until 11:11 a.m., when her partner and close friends lifted her earth body and slowly lowered her into her portal. Everyone was invited to participate in covering her with soil and rose petals. It was a beautiful sending off. So much pink and red. Big red hearts. Bubbles floating everywhere. Incense and smudging. Relics from her palace, costumes, art, photos, memories, all part of the living scene.

Painting during this was challenging. My head and throat felt held in a vice. My heart ached. I watched her close friends grieve. Beautiful and sad.

When I returned to my studio, I was compelled to paint more. I had taken a few discreet photos, just enough to help me remember what I needed to paint. I hope these paintings are received in the way SharmaRay would have. Her last message to me was:

 It is a truly a blessing to have known her.

Rest in peace, my friend.

I will miss you.

Love, Elsa

Here's a beautiful write up from FOLKLIFE magazine: Living In The Pink