"Let Me Know the Struggle Ends"

2013. 48" x 60". Acrylic & charcoal.

In Studio 08.24.13

Self portrait in studio. 08.24.13.

My studio floor. It's famous around the Arts Council building. 

"Always Almost Always"

2013. 36" x 48". Acrylic & charcoal. 

"Silly .Old .Bare."

36" x 60". 2013. Acrylic & charcoal.



It took me a lot of courage to paint this self portrait, and more to post it. I have struggled all my life with my weight and with self image issues, never really feeling comfortable in my own skin. I'm also fairly modest by nature. But inspired by my models/friends, I put myself in front of the camera and posed. I finished this in May and have lost some weight since. This is me, accepting who I am and celebrating my own body, my own beauty, even though I struggle to believe it  sometimes. But we all do. And we are all beautiful.