I am currently a junior at my university. I stopped painting when I entered college, even though it was something I had been doing since middle school. While I loved painting and knew I was good at it, I grew weary of pursuing a future in the arts and saw no purpose in taking it to the next level. However, after a rough start in college and a trip to New York City, old feelings of positivity toward art began to reemerge.
The last few years have been a journey of finding myself. Although this piece may seem dark from the outside, it accurately portrays how far I've come. I painted it white to give a ghostly ambiance, representing trauma and things of my past. Only the mouth is exposed and slightly parted because the figure is finally able to breathe. I wanted to show my liberation and how I no longer feel trapped or suffocated.
With how minimal in color this piece is, I wanted to make sure it was evocative. By using only white and a dark tone of red, as well as using texture to my advantage, I was able to create something that felt haunting. Although this piece is based on an emotional breakthrough from my own experiences, the faceless identity is meant to convey that this is something we all face.
