I wanted to give you all a little update and also thank you for your patience.

I have been working on my paintings whenever my body allows. Lately, the physical pain has been significant, making it difficult to work as much or as consistently as I would like. Even so, I am happy with the progress I am making on this series.

The Fish of the Garden has become more than a collection of paintings. It has become a journey through memory, trauma, and healing. As each painting develops, memories I buried long ago have begun surfacing. The emotional toll of this series is very real. Some days, painting feels less like creating art and more like excavating pieces of my life that were hidden for survival.

At the same time, I am still navigating ongoing discriminatory practices and systemic abuse in the very systems that are supposed to protect and help people like me. The organizations entrusted to assist seniors and the disabled have, in my experience, caused profound harm instead. This has been going on for well over a year.

The constant need to advocate for myself while managing serious health challenges is exhausting. Filing complaint after complaint against these entities has taken a tremendous toll on both my physical and emotional health. The process is draining, especially when the burden repeatedly falls on the person already struggling to survive.

So if my updates are slower, or if my work appears in waves rather than steadily, please know there is a reason.

I am still here. I am still creating. I am still fighting.

And I am deeply grateful for your patience, your kindness, and your support as I continue working through this series.

Thank you for walking this journey with me.

— Marelle Couture