A self-portrait is a vulnerable thing. It forces the artist to really look, not just through their own eyes, but through the eyes of someone else. I felt compelled to expose the pieces of myself that might not usually be captured in a portrait; the parts that make us human brought to the surface.
Expressive acrylics and charcoal are layered with transparent oils, highlighting the layers underneath, rather than hiding them. Each application, raw and exposed, unmasks the experiences that have shaped me up to this point. The use of translucent colours creates a warm glow to the face, and a softness that contrasts the sharp movements of the charcoal markings. The peony is fragmented, creating a sense of outward growth. It represents new beginnings and the idea that all things on this earth seek to ‘flourish’.
This self-portrait captures the human experience with a positive outlook. A seedling that grows in the wind, becomes stronger than one that grows in stillness. You are a result of all of your experiences and will flourish because of them, not despite them.