We are all beautiful. However, sometimes we struggle to see it. I grew up during the rise of social media. I had a hard time accepting myself due to the unrealistic beauty standards I saw on social media. My inspiration comes from my family, friends, and my very own challenges with self-confidence. There has been bullying, self-harm, sexual harassment, and mental health issues in these women’s lives. In this particular body of work, I am visually exploring the stages of womanhood. From the joys of being a young girl to the feelings of isolation as we age, there is no one way to be a woman.
I enjoy creating paintings that show the beauty in every gender, race, and ethnicity. My goal is to represent the unique beauty of each individual’s portraiture while using nature as a commonality. While the figures are the focus, the space around the figure is a low-key value, low color contrast “statement of nature” in that space. I aim for realism in my work but strive to go beyond that. I like for my audience to feel the emotions from the paintings' stories being told through each expression. In my painting, Lora’s Cigarette, it is obvious she has a cigarette in her mouth. The reason she has it can be interpreted in many ways, such as a stress reliever. Lora’s cigarette is her lifeline. It is the only consistent thing in her life. The wrinkles on her hands are the result of years of cooking homemade meals and harvesting crops. Her story lies within the various violets and sienna colors of oil paint on canvas. As I continue to develop my artistic skills, I hope to master storytelling through portraiture with oil being my medium of choice.