SelfWork is a series of contemporary oil paintings depicting bodies in distress within a surreal or abstract psychological landscape. In this current series, I am conveying the anguish and desolation we often feel with both our bodies and psyches. For instance, the first painting Unravel reveals a chronic agitation I undergo every moment. I make use of unbridled, gestural brushstrokes to reveal my creative process and to accentuate my exploration of deep emotional states. Oftentimes, I consider my practice as a bodily performance and a mindful rollercoaster; the visceral response I feel while I work is key to accurately translating my narrative onto the canvas. My life-size paintings confront the viewer of their own vulnerability. I believe this awareness and openness in an individual is the first step in building empathy between people and shifting our frames of mind as a community. The objective of this project is to bring people together and form a safe haven to work through trauma, talk about difficult subjects, and find peace in the universal struggles we experience as a collective whole.