Color pencil, gouache mounted on mat board

18" x 24"

"In Different" is a self-portrait and is one of the hardest pieces that I have ever made. This piece is about my struggle with connecting my artistic being to my body because for most of my life. They have always felt like two different entities living within me. I always tend to neglect one part of myself in favor of the other, whether it be a lack of sleep to finish a piece or ignoring my art when I'm in season for my swim team. I distorted my face to capture this struggle and left the eyes empty to show the toll the dichotomy has taken on my soul. This was not the first time that I had ever tried to do a self-portrait. After many failed attempts, I realized that before I could breach the gap between my two identities, I must first acknowledge both sides of myself. This piece is the first step in what hopefully becomes a journey towards consolidating my two selves into one.