Here I referenced photos taken during one of my “self-performances” (private performances for my camera, which often instigate new paintings) of myself while pregnant. I painted it after giving birth, having seen into the actual experience of motherhood--one in which I was surprised (pleasantly, in a way) at how aggressive and primal this new role feels. There is a sense of being the ultimate protector for this being. So I’ve been looking at images of animals and plants that have built-in protective layers, such as porcupines and cacti. It was interesting to visualize that protective aggression as some kind of bodily weaponry, while paying subtle heed to art history’s religious iconography and perhaps to my upbringing, with her cranberry-like headdress.