You were working from your gut, from instinct, so I will respond that way. I found this to be very powerful, and probably saw what you didn't intend. We bring our lives and experience to art, don't we?
Well I see woman, trapped in expectations of cosmetic beauty. I see a woman with grotesquely painted nails. I see eyes overburdened, burning from daily use of mascara and artificial colors. I see egos scratched out and wounded by these external expectations.
You can see this picture got to me. I'm old, and beyond those societal expectations. It is liberating to be on this side of those expectations. All I need to do is be clean and wear reasonably coordinated clothes. No make up. No nail polish. Just me.
I think it's a great piece, and I'm glad you went with your feelings rather than you intellect.
Thank you very much for your insight. It's interesting you see it that way, did you see my makeup posts before this that influenced that or it's just what you saw immediately?
While I don't think of it as about my physical appearance, it is indeed more like an expectation from myself and other people. Before I draw, I have this very general image in my head and sometimes I try to make sense of it haha and I think that's what makes sense in current situation too.
I see how you see it that way though, it's so nice to read from other people's perspective. Reminded me of why I enjoy making art in the first place. :D
I'm really happy it affected you in a way. And yeah you are also in a very good place to be beyond those expectations. I hope someday I'll be there too. I think that's what happiness is really about. :D Thank you again!
I have seen your makeup posts and never was interested in any of them (you can see why). When I saw this picture, I thought it added a layer of complexity to your personality. I think it's unavoidable in this picture that cosmetics are taking a hit :) We, as woman are conditioned to use them. We are conditioned to try and be as attractive as we can, and many women do unpleasant things to themselves to meet that standard.
It's hard to resist the marketing, the pitch we are given even as little girls that our appearance is paramount. It takes up so much emotional and actual time in a girl's life.
I think you must be very confident, in a way, to let your instinct through, to listen to the voice in your head that wants to create perplexing art. You're not tailoring your art to expectations, but to the voice in your head (or your heart).
I agree with you regarding makeup. I also hate when some people say "you don't need makeup" as a compliment, although I do know their intentions are not bad, just overall that statement is saying that people wear makeup to be beautiful. We never need makeup, nobody does, a lot of us use it as an expression for ourselves, like a canvas and practicing and blending colors and whatnot.
One of my goals for creating makeup content is to encourage people to be creative and do what you like and not think about being "pretty" to somebody else. I don't want to be that makeup creator who would sell makeup "to make you beautiful". I think that's toxic and I plan to use my voice to discourage that thinking. Do as they please, not to fit to what society deems pretty. :D
It's doing the makeup thing I think what really helped me start painting again. The "long nails" to me are more like fingers melting as I've been in burnout for years now and I feel guilt for that (which I shouldn't be) but if you think about it, having really long nails also prevent you from doing stuff! XD But yeah, cosmetics have not affected me negatively, in fact it is positive.
That's how it should be, in an ideal world. Unfortunately even in history we know even artists who were very expressive were looked down on... it's until they die that people start to appreciate that. It is very hard since we all need to pay the bills. But yeah I need to be braver :D
Thank you for your comment and wonderful insight :D
I understand about your makeup posts now. So much more interesting than I thought :)
I think you are, already. Quite creative. It is lovely to see.
Be happy with yourself, please :)
Thank you very much! <3