Collection: Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train Series

Original abstract paintings using Thomas the Train toys to paint instead of paintbrushes by Toronto Artist Rachael Grad.

Rolling a toy train across my artwork is a not-so-subtle metaphor for being a mother and an artist. When I became a mother, my art changed course. Toys overtook my home and artwork. In this series I reverse the ubiquitous toy train and turn it into a paintbrush. The sweeping motion of this mark making is unexpectedly tiring for my arm and back, like the physical aches experienced when mothering newborns. The playful colour works versus dark black images reflect the 24-hour nature of mom duties. 

To express motherhood in body and gesture, I use small toy trains to make marks across watercolour paper. I dip trains in paint, then roll them while standing or kneeling over the paper to make lines.

Read more about the Inspiration and Background Story of the Abstract Painting Series in this Blog Post: Recently Sold Painting.