This project represents how my family dynamics shifted and therefore changed me as a person. This begins as me (red) my dad (orange) and my biological mother (green). My mom battled alcoholism for the longest time therefore that broke my heart and my dad repaired it. Later, I was heartbroken again by a friend that wasn't very kind to me and my dad fixed me yet again by giving me a part of his own heart. And finally, my stepmother came into the picture and she healed both me and my father. The colors in the background represent the stereotypical connotations of for example green blue red or black. During the final critique I was suggested to use matte as everything that was considered bad and gloss as everything that's considered good I think that was a great idea and that really helped me bring my story more to life than it already had been.

For this project I mainly wanted to showcase my skills when it comes to texture. I wanted to experiment with acrylic paint because I've seen impasta works that looked really neat and seemed to feel really cool. I used a mix of ceramic and acrylic to create this work. I used acrylic to create the grass and to paint the lawn mower while I used ceramic to make the structure of the lawnmower. I knew what I wanted to do from the very first sketch. I tend to stick to the ideas I have from the beginning. I practiced impasta with acrylic multiple times before creating this painting, and I think the grass came out really well.

I love the curvature of women. That was the idea from the beginning, I wanted to experiment with said curvature. I used ceramic to create this, I found that it's easiest for me to mimic body parts if it's in a familiar medium. Honestly, I knew what I wanted to do from the start, I kind of just went with the flow. I altered the size and length of the legs and arms, and fixed the neck a few times... though its still broken.

How does the fear of the human body affect someone’s perspective on life?

My first project was my interpretation of the phrase “butterflies in the stomach.” I created a stomach designed to appear disturbingly realistic, emphasizing the discomfort many people feel when confronted with the reality of the human body. In contrast, I used cardboard butterflies to represent the more romanticized and innocent way emotions are often described. The butterflies create a sharp contrast between harsh biological reality and the softer, more comforting ideas people attach to emotions, showing the tension between truth and blissful ignorance.

My second project explored the contrast between medical procedures and socially accepted forms of body modification. Specifically, I focused on vaccinations and ear piercings. Many people view vaccinations as intimidating, painful, or unnatural, despite their medical purpose and benefits. At the same time, willingly piercing holes in the body for appearance or self-expression is often seen as normal or even exciting. This contrast made me question why certain interactions with the body create fear while others are accepted, and how these reactions shape the way people think about their bodies and their lives.