Making recovery artwork helps my own recovery.

This piece represents the journey of recovery as described in the Big Book. The figure in the center symbolizes a recovered individual with his own unique light and color. As each recovered member crosses through the gate of freedom, he carries his own colorful light, contributing to the collective glow of our souls.

The “gate of freedom” is constructed from twelve stones, representing the Twelve Steps as foundation (AA, 12, 97), cornerstone (AA, 47), and keystone (AA, 62). These stones are securely held together by cement (AA, 75), which symbolizes the bond between us (AA, 17). This bond arises from sharing the same problem and relying on the same solution. AA’s symbol—a circle and triangle—is placed on the foundation stone of the gate.

The torn pages scattered around the piece reflect the fragments of our lives—stories of trauma, pain, and lessons learned. These torn pages include excerpts from the Big Book, which not only guides us through recovery but also helps us find meaning and healing in those broken pieces.

The tools depicted in the artwork—such as the spade—remind us of the ongoing effort to “keep chopping,” to continue uncovering, digging, and freeing ourselves from the chains of our past, one link at a time.

Before I completed the Twelve Steps, I imagined spirituality as a blank, white space, free from emotions. But recovery revealed a much deeper reality—a life full of colors, like the vibrant hues of the sky, the sun, and the clouds. These colors symbolize the joy, peace, and unconditional love that come from living in harmony with my Higher Power, no matter what life brings.

Nothing blocks me from the sunlight of the Spirit anymore.