“Preening with an Unseemly Vanity”
Why are self portraits always so beautiful and elegant? Why can’t I paint myself looking like a gremlin while eating spaghetti in the most disgusting way possible? Well, I could. And, I did. My concentration is the true epitome of irony, because the more I paint myself looking unconventional, grotesque, or downright “ugly”, the more honest I feel, and the more confidence I gain. I intend to show the viewer my acne, my body, my messy eating habits, and so on, to show who I am. My goal as an artist is to not hold back, whether that be the subject matter, or the precise color palette I use in order to create a visual the viewer can dive into and may not feel “satisfied” by. Essentially, here I am on canvas, magnifying my imperfections, testing how far I can go, and how much “uglier” I can get.