Scissor Tongue
Anais S.
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Scissor Tongue inspired by glamorized portraits of young girls with clear skin and bright eyes striking elegant poses to create a self-portrait that contrasted those ideals. I have had acne for about a quarter of my life now, so adding discoloration and acne in my face onto paper without holding back was both liberating and enjoyable. I waited for each layer of watercolor to dry before applying the next so that I could incorporate a diverse blend of warm and cool tones. After finishing the face, arms, tongue, background, and scissors in watercolor, I used black ink pens with varying thickness for the clothes, hair, and outlines. A white ink pen was used for highlights to make the skin feel alive. Not only did I want to explore the depth of color in human bodies with this piece, but also my own self-acceptance with my appearance. Even though I am holding a pair of scissors to a disturbingly long tongue, which symbolizes insecurity, I am smiling. Ultimately, completing this piece strengthened my own security with self-image.
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As Plato said, "The unexamined life is not worth living," and visual art is my most valuable creative outlet to analyze myself and my surroundings. Expressing my creativity, specifically through watercolor self-portraits, enables me to accept my emotions by manifesting them into visual material.
