Guy Looking

Guy Looking, 2018

I made this piece of art with myself as the subject matter. The content is myself with a red mask with green leaves and blue circles. The eyes are surreal and distorted.
Around me are words and a dark aura. The words represent all the words which critique and overwhelm us and the aura is barrier we build to try and block it. We make the mask to protect ourselves and try to show off a brighter or harder exterior when in reality we are unable to handle.
Frida Kahlo was a big influence. Her style of self portrait and sometimes surreal portrait was my main influence. I painted myself and then collaged the mask over the face plus the words.
The eyes will make the viewer focus on the mask and slowly draw them around to see the barrier and all the words around the character.