PAINTINGS
Torn Tissue
Artist Statement:
Although I have never been a particularly healthy person, my current battle with chronic illness has made me a shell of myself. Currently, I feel as if I am in a state of mourning for my former, slightly-healthier body; it has created immense amounts of frustration with my image. I used to be the kind of person who would wear tights, corsets, and mini skirts but now I often hide my body under baggy garments that would fall off of me if not for my bloat.
With Torn Tissue, I aim to display my ill form in order to find comfort in being exposed.
Media:
Oil paint on canvas, wood frame, paper mache (cardboard, newspaper, tinfoil, Mod Podge), acrylic paint, roving wool, & cheesecloth.
Process & Development:
As Parasite & Muse
Artist Statement:
For As Parasite & Muse, I was tasked to create a “headshot” that displays an aspect of my identity. I often use myself as a model and as inspiration within my work. Although this allows me to explore aspects of myself and my psyche, I feel immense guilt over the vanity I display in these pieces. As Parasite & Muse visually harnesses the complex relationship I have with my own art.
Media:
Watercolor paper, construction paper, watercolor paint, gouache, colored pencil, white gel pen, wood glue, & rubber cement.
Mundanity
Artist Statement:
As a young artist, it is easy to overanalyze past work, failed career opportunities, and future goals. Creating Mundanity allowed me to step out of my anxieties and focus on what truly matters: a hot cup of coffee in the early morning, the view from my living room window, adventures on set, and all the little moments that differentiate living from surviving
Media:
Watercolor paper, watercolor paint, gouache, colored pencil & rubber cement.
Process & Development:
AP Art 2023
During elementary and middle school, I developed a life-threatening eating disorder that has affected me physically and mentally ever since. According to ANAD, around 9% of Americans will experience an ED in their lifetime. Most of the general population will never experience the pain of disordered eating. This portfolio from my senior year of high school visually captures the torturous afflictions I have experienced in order to spread awareness of the realities of eating disorders.
Regulation
Artist Statement:
Regulation represents food rules being forced onto me from a young age. It also shows how external pressure can further develop those regulations. I chose to use watercolor for this piece to juxtapose the painting’s vibrant colors and cheerful décor with the gloomy subject matter.
Media:
Watercolor paper, watercolor paint, gouache, colored pencil, & white gel pen.
Obsession
Artist Statement:
Obsession chronicles the feeling of being overwhelmed by food noise (i.e. unrelenting thoughts about food and restriction). This piece allowed me to experiment with intricate detail work. Furthermore, Obsession helped me further develop my surrealistic self-portrait painting style, creating a cohesive tone in the portfolio.
Media:
Oil paint on canvas.
Relapse
Artist Statement:
As someone who has experienced a severe eating disorder, I am incredibly familiar with the urge to lose progress and restrict my food intake. In Relapse the eating disorder takes over the subject and causes harm to the subject's body, displaying the helplessness that comes with having an eating disorder.
Media:
Oil paint on canvas board.
Diet Culture
Artist Statement:
Diet Culture was created as a study into the psychological impact of Western society's obsession with dieting. Images and phrases that focus on weight loss are prevalent in many ads and other media sources. As social media continues to gain popularity, these messages are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Media:
Oil Paint on canvas.