07/21/2026
I was born a “Johnston”…..and today (Monday 7/20/26), I said goodbye to the man who bestowed that honor on me 56 years ago. This piece is for you, Gene….my Dad…❤️
“The Chaos That Robbed Dad & Me”
As an artist, I try to name my paintings after the emotions and thoughts I wrestled with while creating it. I finished this piece two months ago but just couldn’t find the right name….nothing fit.
For a while, I toiled with calling it “Unexpected Red” because, for me as the creator, the red is the element that stands out in front, provides the necessary depth needed to tell a story, and sort of hides the multitude of jumbled layers underneath. It’s a metaphor for portions of my life, always struggling to be seen and understood, to be valued…..to be wanted and feel like I belong. To feel that I’m worth fighting for but quite often I’ve felt as though nobody heard me.
Now, I’m the red. It’s been a long road and I’m still traveling on it but the “hurtful layers” underneath no longer consume my self-esteem because I found my true self through the grace and strong love of my husband of 36 years, and our two grown boys that envelopes me always, in all ways.
Even still, the name (“Unexpected Red”) just didn’t “land” for me.
BUT TODAY, AFTER GETTING HOME FROM HIS CALLING HOURS, I saw the piece hanging in my studio, patiently waiting, and I knew instantly…...
“The Chaos That Robbed Dad & Me”
Because even though I was born as the biological daughter of Robert Eugene (Gene) Johnston, I was forbidden to know him.
He and my mother met in high school. They married and had me and my younger brother, Michael. But it wasn’t happily ever after for them and they divorced when I was just 2 years old.
Due to the extremely convoluted and truly chaotic nature of their dual, intertwined family trees and an endless web of lies, deceit and pure evil hatred on my mother and step-father’s part, Michael and I were robbed of ever getting to know him. He was forbidden to us; we weren’t even allowed to speak his name or acknowledge his existence. To do so meant punishment for us….
Much later, as an adult, he and I were able to reconnect but never to the extent we could have been had we been allowed to be in each other’s lives from the start.
From what I came to know of him, he was a remarkable man full of love, empathy, talent, kindness and honor. Being born to his surname is something I treasure and am proud of today.
The last thing he said to me when I was able to sit with him for a while about a week before he passed was “I love you, too” and it resonated with me to my core. How many chances we could have had to say that to each other, I’ll never know…..
…..because that precious time was taken from the three of us, entangled in the underlying chaotic layers of family dynamics, fear and diabolical, heartless, narcissistic and predatory actions carried out by the two people who were supposed to love us the most; “our parents”.
So, Dad…it makes my heart so happy to say that this painting is dedicated to you….because after today, I realized that despite all forces against us, we came out on top. We made it through all of the chaotic layers in the background and you’re forever in my heart. We did it, we’re the red now, as we always should have been.
I was born Melissa D Johnston. Gene was then, and will always be, my Dad….I love you, Dad.
24” x 36”
1 1/2” Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Acrylic Original Painting by Melissa Ervin
“The Chaos That Robbed Dad & Me”
If this original, one of a kind painting resonates with you and you’d like to have it and honor it in your home, please message me. It is available for purchase
Ervin Artistry
