“This piece was directly inspired by the model. A young girl who struck this pose that just captivated me. It was a gesture where her whole body communicated — not just her arms and her head, but her shoulders, back, and the way she shifted her weight — her whole being emanated happiness from within. So I tried to capture some of that — the happiness or inner contentment that comes from knowing you are truly loved. I wanted to give her an aura, so I made a lacy pierced metal crown, tiara, halo — whatever you want to call it — I think it makes her uniquely angelic.”