Project for Hope

It has been really hard to settle on a final project and I am not sure of what is keeping me from just making something work. When I bought this 24 x 36 canvas I was excited to get something on it but trying to fill up a huge white canvas does have its pressures. So to avoid painting on the canvas I look through a photography book and found this image of a boy. He was wrapped in rags standing in front of  the water and buildings that had a certain quality about it that I couldn't stop looking at. It was difficult to try to draw this image with charcoal on a index card but it came out to be an okay sketch. but what I like that most was when it had faded out on another paper that I lay on top to prevent it from smudging.  Somehow I like the way that the image had faded and the reflection of this piece. I had wanted to incorporate it into the large canvas painting I had on top but what would be the message? Would it be PHOT?
My original plan for that canvas was to have overlaying faces that were washed out. Each overlaying face on top of another would show different layers of personalities that people have. It shows how sometimes people are confused about how they are or who they want to be. Also it would be a opportunity to just practice painting faces. I don't think I can explain how many times I have gotten frustrated and just pored a whole cup of water on the painting to wash it away.Then I came across a picture of a woman with her head thrown back and it seemed as if she was free. Without any limitations and with every flaw having a beauty to it, even the curve of her neck seemed beautiful according to the photographer. So that was how I developed a meaning to start with. I wanted to paint anything on the canvas that may seem free or without limitations. anything that may bring joy but also just show hope. It seemed throughout this whole process I had been so hopeless in trying to find a project but that sense of hopelessness and frustration had turn into my project itself.