Have you ever leaned on someone, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, when the weight of the world felt like too much to bear?

Lean On Me, the first piece in my Soft Roots series, is a celebration of that quiet strength, of the kind of support that doesn’t shout, but simply stays. Capturing a tender moment of connection between two women, this painting honors the unspoken power of feminine presence, resilience, and grace.

With fluid lines and rich, earthy tones, Lean On Me reflects the beauty of sisterhood and rest. It’s deeply inspired by the shared strength within African diasporic cultures, where softness is not a sign of weakness, but a source of power. This artwork invites viewers to witness unity, vulnerability, and the sacred act of leaning in when we need one another most.

In this post, I’ll take you behind the canvas to share the inspiration, meaning, and creative process behind this expressive figurative painting.

Inspiration & Meaning

Lean On Me was born from a place of longing, a desire to see more spaces where women, especially Black women, can rest into each other. It’s a painting shaped by hope as much as it is by absence.

Though I live in Athens now, I often find myself searching for the kind of community that feels soft and supportive, where women uplift each other not through noise, but through presence. In many ways, this painting reflects what I wish existed more freely: a quiet strength shared among women, where leaning on each other isn’t seen as weakness, but as something sacred and powerful.

The women in Lean on Me aren't just figures; they are symbols of what it means to be held and to hold. Their closeness, their stillness, is a reminder that support doesn't always have to be loud to be life-giving. Drawing on my connection to African diasporic traditions, where community and care run deep, this piece is both a tribute and a call to action. A tribute to the resilience I’ve seen in the women who raised me. A call to create something like that again, even here, even now.

Materials & Techniques

For Lean On Me, I chose acrylic on canvas as my medium; its flexibility allowed me to layer color and emotion with immediacy. Acrylics dry quickly, which means every gesture had to be intentional, almost like breathing through the brush. That urgency became part of the emotional energy of the piece.

The lines are fluid and organic, echoing the way closeness between women often flows without needing explanation. I worked with a palette of deep umbers, soft ochres, and muted reds, earth tones that feel rooted, ancestral, and grounding. They speak to the soil of connection, to where we come from, and to the emotional depth of rest and reliance.

There’s texture in this piece, too, subtle but deliberate. The slight build-up of paint in certain areas mirrors the weight and tenderness of being leaned on. I wanted the viewer to feel that physical and emotional weight, how beautiful and heavy it can be to hold space for someone.

This painting isn’t meant to shout; it whispers, it breathes. Just like the kind of support it represents.

Visual Interpretation & Symbolism

At first glance, Lean On Me is a quiet image, but if you sit with it, the silence speaks volumes. Two women, gently curved into each other’s space, embody the essence of trust and quiet support. Their posture doesn’t dramatize struggle; it honors stillness, connection, and rest.

This piece is a visual prayer for something I deeply yearn for: a village. Not just a physical place, but an emotional landscape, a community of women who see, hold, and uplift one another. That kind of village used to feel more present in stories and memory, among aunties, grandmothers, and neighbors. But in many spaces today, especially living as a Black woman abroad, I feel the absence of that soft, interwoven support.

The women in Lean On Me represent what I believe every woman needs, especially those navigating isolation, diaspora, or burnout: someone to lean on without apology. They are faceless on purpose, inviting each viewer to step into the embrace, to feel seen, or to become the one doing the holding.

The earthy palette grounds the figures in something timeless, like they’re not just two women, but echoes of many. And the softness in the lines? It’s a reminder that strength and tenderness can coexist.

This is what I hope for all of us: to find our village again. Or at the very least, to start building it with love, one small act of support at a time.

Where to See or Purchase the Artwork

If Lean On Me resonates with you, if it stirs that longing for softness, connection, or community, it’s available for you to bring into your space.

You can view the painting and explore purchasing details directly on my website:
👉 Lean On Me by Judith T Matewa – View & Buy

As the first piece in my Soft Roots series, Lean On Me holds deep emotional weight and is offered as both an original work and in a limited series of fine art prints. Whether displayed in a home, office, or healing space, this painting is meant to be more than décor; it’s an emotional presence, a quiet reminder of the power in leaning, resting, and supporting.

If you’re interested in seeing the work in person or hosting it in a gallery setting, feel free to reach out via the contact page on my site. I’d love to connect and continue building community through art.