I’m starting to get comfortable enough with painting portraits to start creating unique characters. The result is Wildling. I hope you like her.
She's going to usher in a new aesthetic in the Wild Woman Portraits series. I’m shifting from the more traditional painting style I learned in college to a more illustrative style that better suits my narrative compulsion. Wildling is the first step in that direction.
In the past I have been accused of being aggressive and confrontational on many occasions when I was actually being self-confident and assertive. I think many women have had this experience. I don't resent these experiences anymore. They helped me become who I am, taught me lessons, and inspired this new body of work.
I don't think most people are being malicious when they criticize, nor do I think they only subject women to demeaning comments. I think most of the cruel things people say come from their own fear and insecurities. We certainly shouldn't accept it, whatever their motivation, but we also shouldn't allow it space in our hearts and minds.