A Little Purple, A Lot of Heart
This past Monday, I sat down to make a painting for my friend Rob—and ended up sharing a lot more than I expected.
Celebrating Rob: Recovery, Joy, and a Whole Lot of Purple
This image says it all—Adrian standing in the studio, green apron on, paint supplies ready, and a custom purple pour about to begin. Beside him: Rob, beaming with energy and pride, repping his “Sober Rob” shirt. The balloons, the smiles, the Superman logo—it’s a celebration of friendship, creativity, and recovery.
The piece was a birthday gift. Rob and I met in recovery, and we’ve stayed connected since. He’s actually the very first person who bought something from our website (yes, it was one of Cory’s paintings—no hard feelings). His daughter liked it so much she ended up taking it, so Rob’s been without one for a while. When I asked what kind of piece he’d want for himself, all he said was, “Make it purple.”
So I did.
Using a 10” round canvas, I poured and layered different types of purples—everything from rich, metallic violet to flashes of neon—plus some gold, black, and white for contrast. I played with swiping, wrecking, and flowing movement until the colors found their rhythm. I didn’t name the painting, but if I had to give it one now, maybe I’d call it Gratitude.
Because that’s what I was really painting with.
The First Pour
Adrian begins the painting with a steady hand, guiding a stream of layered purple paints onto the round canvas. Gloved and focused, this first pour sets the tone for a deeply personal piece made in honor of his friend Rob—and marks the start of a story told in color.
During the pour, I started talking about how I met Rob. About how, in early recovery, he went out of his way to keep people connected when meetings had to go virtual. He mailed key tags to everyone. He celebrated their time clean even if he couldn't see them in person. He even mailed me something to recognize my 18 months.
That kind of support sticks with you.
In the video, I shared a bit about my own journey—how I relapsed around the six or seven-month mark because I thought I “had it all figured out.” Turns out, I didn’t. But I got back up. I kept going. I stopped seeing the program as something I had to do, and started seeing it as something I get to be part of. And today, I’m grateful to say I have 18 months clean. My clean date is December 4, 2023.
Painting has been a huge part of that healing for me. In the beginning, it was the one thing I could do that felt like a step toward light instead of darkness. When words weren’t working, paint did.
That’s what this video became—more than just a gift for a friend. It’s a small piece of my story, my recovery, and my heart. And from the comments and messages, it sounds like it resonated with others, too. Rob left a comment that simply said, “Holy cow. That was beautiful in every way. ❤” That meant a lot.
If you’re in recovery, or thinking about it, or love someone who’s walking that path—I hope this video gives you a little bit of hope, or at least makes you feel less alone. If you want to watch it, it’s right here below.
The Reveal
Adrian lifts the finished painting, revealing waves of white curling over layered purples, with gold and black laced throughout. The paint is still wet, cells are forming, and the details are just beginning to emerge—but already, the emotion is clear. This is more than a pour—it’s a gift, a process, and a piece of gratitude made visible.
Thanks for being part of this journey with me.
– Adrian
