Eight Seconds

Description

Eight Seconds
21″ x 18.5″ • Graphite on Paper • Pamela Watson, 2020

Eight Seconds was begun on December 8, 2020, during a time when artist Pamela Watson felt the weight of life pressing hard—like the world had cast its vote and she was being forced off the ride. In search of an image to express the intensity and fleeting nature of such struggles, she sifted through over 50,000 personal photographs. That emotional journey brought waves of grief, joy, and deep reflection.

She ultimately chose the image of a bucking horse and rider as the visual metaphor for her prayer—a nod to the rodeo’s eight-second ride, where everything depends on holding on just a little longer. The horse symbolizes chaos and power, while the rider represents the will to endure through turbulence and loss. Rendered in graphite with powerful, expressive marks, the drawing captures a suspended moment of struggle, courage, and sheer grit.

Even years later, the title holds meaning. For Pamela, Eight Seconds continues to reflect the hard truth that some days are simply about holding on—for hope, for survival, for a chance to ride it out and see what comes next.