She Tried, But Couldn't |
Abstract Canvas Print from Original Oil Painting
by Nicole McNamara

At first glance, "She Tried, But Couldn’t" looks calm — pastels, soft transitions, that whole peaceful, Pinterest-perfect aesthetic. But don’t be fooled. She may look chill, but this painting has been through it.

I originally painted her in bold, in-your-face oils. Big colors. Big feelings. I was trying to create something beautiful while quietly unraveling thanks to relentless bullying. The canvas became a kind of armor — something I could control when everything else felt out of control. But over time, what I thought was beauty started to feel like her — the person who made me feel small. Every stroke started to carry the weight of that pain.

Then one day? I’d had enough. I picked up white paint and just went for it. Angry, sweeping strokes — no plan, no mercy. It felt like I was erasing her, scrubbing the toxic energy right off the canvas. And honestly? It was cathartic as hell.

But here’s the twist: instead of ending up with chaos, I found calm. Real calm. The neutrals didn’t feel boring — they felt honest. Healing. Like a deep exhale after holding it in for too long. And if you look closely, the bold colors are still there — peeking through like old memories that don’t need to be hidden, but don’t run the show anymore either.

Now, this painting tells my story. She tried to break me, but here I am — still standing, brush in hand. She can keep pretending to have it all together. I see through it. And now? I see myself more clearly than ever.

Each "She Tried, But Couldn’t" print is made to order — a conscious rejection of mass production in favor of art that carries meaning. We don’t sit on inventory. We create your piece when you choose it. That’s why it ships within five business days — fresh, intentional, and yours alone.