Have you ever met someone and as you’ve gotten to know them you realize your first impression was wrong? This artwork is meant to represent that and how there can be so much more to someone than what you see on the surface.

The figure in the foreground is a portrayal of myself. I chose to do it as a self portrait because in my personal life I have often felt that there is much more to me than what people see at first. Creating this piece was truly a healing experience as I strove to portray what my life has sometimes felt like.

Originally it was inspired by my desire to show my friends who I truly was but as I was creating it the goal became more to create a piece that was relatable to everyone. That is why I am portrayed in grayscale, so it is easier for the viewer to insert themselves into the piece. Everyone has different sides of themselves that some see and others don’t and if that is good or bad depends on the person, but as the flowers symbolize, I believe there is great beauty within everyone even if they don’t realize it.