Painting 18 of 30 – September 2014, 30 Paintings 30 Days Challenge
The day after I purchased my new pants, I had to give a presentation at a meeting. I had initially had in mind to wear something else, but at the last minute decided to wear my new pants with a dress shirt I had. After I completed getting dressed, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror in a complete ensemble (not the dress pants/baggy T-shirt combo I had worn in the dressing room) and for the first time, in what had seemed forever, I felt like I looked good. Up until that very moment, I knew I had been getting healthy, and felt healthier, but *I* had not been able to see the physical transformation when I looked in the mirror. But that day was different – I saw me!
I remember coming downstairs, and my daughter running up to me saying “mommy you look pretty”, and my husband smiling and telling her she was right. Not once did I have to “fish” for a compliment by asking “How do I look?”. My heart was happy, my confidence was lifted, and I felt radiant.
When I left the house, I stopped by my gallery to pick a few things up for my presentation. While I was there I did two things that I NEVER had done before. 1) I took a “Selfie” 2) I posted it on Facebook. I had been guilty of avoiding being photographed for the better part of my adult life, and I certainly avoided at all costs sharing my photo on the internet. There are very few photos, let alone good photos (but that’s because my husband sucks at taking photos – a whole other issue in itself) of me with my kids, or me over the past 15 years. But I decided that was going to change, I wanted to remember that morning, I wanted to reintroduce myself to the world, and I want proof of my existence, and for my kids to be able to look in photo albums long after I’m gone and see me in their lives.
This painting is my first ever self portrait, and it is only suitable that it is of my “Selfie”.
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Once again, this post really touches me !
I have almost no photos of me for the last 6 years! As if I was not existing ! So sad…
What a wonderful story! So proud of you and excited for a truly new beginning. This whole project could be a book, you know!
lov Aunt Connie
Thanks Aunt Connie – it means a lot to me to hear that from you! It’s funny you mentioned a book… I had thought about it, and I also thought about a calendar, but I don’t think there would be much interest in either, but then again I could be wrong. I do think I will do a second part to this series and do another 30 paintings in April. By that time I would hopefully be at my goal. Maybe then I could step back and revisit the book idea.