The Outcast

"The Outcast" 30 by 40 inches, oil on panel.
In this painting, the artist touches on memories she has as a child, growing up in a rural climate and going to school along side many farm animals. She remembers seeking comfort in the animals rather than her piers. She considered herself a day dreamer, a girl who wanted to explore the world. She wore long dresses to school and hummed songs to herself. While she sought comfort in her aspirations, she never felt she could relate to what the other children were doing on the playground. Her little fancy dresses were a deterrent, only a thing to make fun of and although she loved dressing up and living in imaginary worlds, she was seen as strange, an outcast, not like the rest. Throughout her life she tried to keep exploring the magic she saw in the world and harnessed it into a craft. The painting is about never giving up on your vision. The artist made the dress we see on the figure out of paper and went to her grammar school to photograph goats for reference. The figure in this painting acts as a self portrait. And while she still considers herself a story teller and still hums songs to herself, she feels her visions as an adult are more realized and respected now than as a child. We all have a voice and this painting is to inspire those of us who shy away from using it. The girl in the painting is not afraid to look into the viewers eyes. The reasoning behind this is that she has grown to appreciate the life she's been given and is not afraid to be seen.