Original Photograph (Starting Point)
-This is the original photograph I took of myself. It captures a quiet, personal moment and became the starting point for this project.

Outline Drawing
-I tried to create an outline from the photograph digitally first to focus only on the body and posture. This step helped me move away from realism and begin thinking more conceptually.

Words as Skin (The final piece)

Materials: Acrylic paint, Oil pastel, Markers, Pencil, Paintbrushes, Finger blending, Paper, Water

This artwork comes from my experience of how negative words and judgments can feel like they are burned into a person’s body. I wanted to show how harsh thoughts, comments, and labels from society do not just disappear they stay with us and sit on our skin. The figure in my piece is surrounded by fire to represent pain, anger, and intense emotion, while the dark blue background creates a heavy, quiet space that makes the flames stand out even more. I was inspired by the idea of the gaze that we discussed in class, especially how women’s bodies are constantly looked at, judged, and labeled. Instead of presenting a perfect or idealized body, I filled the figure with words that society uses to hurt. This work asks viewers to slow down and confront those words rather than consuming the image quickly.

The idea of the gaze plays a big role in how this piece functions. Usually, the gaze turns the body into something to be admired, criticized, or controlled. I wanted to flip that power. By covering the body with negative words, I take away the comfort of looking. The viewer cannot ignore the cruelty of these labels or reduce the figure to something pretty or weak. In this way, the artwork subverts the gaze by forcing people to acknowledge the emotional scars that often come from being seen and judged. The figure becomes more than just a body it becomes a space where inner feelings, memories, and pain are visible. This was important to me because inner wounds are just as real as physical ones, even if they are harder to see.

My process started with a simple pencil sketch of the figure. I wanted the outline to be clear but not overly detailed so the focus could stay on the words and flames. I then used markers to write negative words directly onto the body, covering the skin completely. Writing these words was an emotional part of the process because they are words many people, including myself, have heard or felt before. I kept the hair black so it would not distract from the message. For the fire, I used layers of red, orange, and yellow paint, building the flames slowly so they felt alive and moving. The background is painted in deep blue with hints of purple to create contrast and depth, helping the fire and words stand out even more.

Painting was the most challenging part of this project because I usually feel more comfortable drawing. Mixing colors, blending flames, and working on a large surface felt intimidating at first. The fire looked messy in the beginning, and I was afraid I had ruined it. But I remembered Jack Halberstam’s idea that failure can be productive and creative. Instead of stopping, I leaned into the messiness. I blended the paint with my fingers, allowing the colors to move naturally. That moment of letting go helped the flames feel more real and emotional. Including process and detail shots on my website is important to me because they show this journey from uncertainty to confidence and help viewers understand that the artwork is not just about the final image, but about how it came to life.

I believe the strongest part of this piece is the contrast between the dark figure filled with heavy words and the bright, burning fire around it. That contrast pulls the viewer in and makes them feel both the heat and the emotional weight of the work. While I think I could improve the accuracy of the self-portrait and make some words clearer, I am proud of how this piece turns pain into expression. This artwork takes hurtful labels and transforms them into something visible, honest, and powerful. More than anything, it reminds viewers that a person is always more than how they are seen and that telling these stories through art can be an act of healing.