Power Portrait
My first piece is a self portrait I created for my college painting class in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. The prompt was to draw inspiration from classical portrait paintings to create a portrait of our choosing with oil paint. Looking at these old paintings I could see how most were created and curated to portray the subject's power and wealth; the final image casting them in a glorified and false light. I wanted to subvert this idea by painting a realistic portrait of myself showcasing the true nature of my mental health during the pandemic. The reference photo I used was taken by my roommate after I had just finished going through an emotional breakdown; I sit honestly in the center of my messy and destroyed room as I stare down the viewer, daring them to look at the true state of how I was feeling. It remains slightly unfinished and unrefined which I feel highlights my struggle even more.
