I posted this on Tumblr yesterday. I wanted to share it here as well.
The past few days (since I've been absent from the blogging world for a little while, I needed to catch up) I've been reading posts from bloggers about self image and self love. Two that come to mind are Charlavail and Amy Morby. Along with recent events in my life, the messages they're trying to get across had me thinking.

This snapchat photo was in response to a snap my friend sent me. At the same time, this photo also expresses a self realization that occurred today.

You know how you’re always told that people are flawed? It never really hits you until, who knows when it hits you actually. It can click at any moment, and it did for me today. When you take a step back and look at people as a whole, everyone is flawed; no one is perfect. Some people acknowledge it, but most people don’t which is why everyone talks s*** about eachother.

My whole life I’ve had poor self image; I never liked myself because people always picked apart at my flaws. I was always too nice to do return the favor which is why it tore me apart every time. I believed it all. Recently I felt those old wounds open up when people started picking me apart again. I let those feelings stew a bit until today when it hit me that I just don’t give a f***. I am flawed and so is everyone else in this entire world. The way you handle that shows what kind of person you are. When you accept everyone else as they are, the better off you are, and the better you become. When you pick apart someone else, you are showing the world who you really are: a hypocrite.

This realization made me stop and think about myself. As long as they’re productive and harmless actions, I will do whatever the hell I want. I’ll wear what I want, I’ll cut my hair the way I want, I’ll shave when I want, I’ll keep up with whatever hobbies I want; the list is endless. We are here to look out for ourselves, I mean we are living OUR OWN lives, aren’t we? Do what makes you happy, that should be all that matters. (Yes I know, we should act selflessly and watch out for eachother, but I’d like to think that’s a given. In terms of appearance and state of mental health, that’s a different case.) Our flaws shouldn’t control our lives, and other people’s judgements and criticisms shouldn’t control our lives. WE control our own lives and if other people can’t handle that, they’ll get a slap from reality real soon, won’t they.

All I’m saying is, don’t let other people get you down. Do as you please, and if anyone passes judgements, just remember that there is always something you can judge about them too, because as I said, no one is perfect. Be happy with yourself. Be happy with who you are, and what you look like. You control your life. Don’t let others get away with controlling it for you.

Here’s to self realization.

This mindset is something that is achieved on your own, for you to come to terms with your own self. It may not even make sense now, but it's something that can make sense if you want it to.
We're surrounded by concepts that are considered standards, it's hard to not let words take a toll on you when you don't fit those standards.

I don't want to make this all preachy, but I guess here are some "tips" to help you come to your own terms:
• Try something different today, be it major or minor. Test your confidence. Yesterday, I cut my bangs and parted my hair differently. It's crazy how something little like that can make you feel like a new person.
• If anyone passes judgement at you, feel free to judge them back, in your head. Be the bigger person, keep it to yourself; let them have their moment of hierarchy. As hard as it may be, don't acknowledge their words. Remember, they are in denial of their own flaws.
• Look in the mirror, make funny faces at yourself, stare at yourself, accept your flaws. When you come to terms with the fact that you are not perfect, just like everyone else in the world, others criticisms will be easier to pass and ignore.
• Read something spiritual that gets to the deeper meaning of the self and the soul. I'm currently reading the Tibetan Book Of The Dead. It's always interesting to learn about getting to the root of the soul and things that should matter more than physical appearance. Life should be about who you are inside, not about your exterior.
• Smile at the world. Be happy. You know something most people don't know: how to love yourself.

And that's Self Realization Friday 101 with Maria. I hope you took something from all this rambling.

I wish I had some underwater adventures to share, but alas, it's only artwork that I'll be sharing.
The past few assignments I worked on, I really seemed to be all about water themes. Aside from the galaxy deep sea diver, this is another example. I wanted to make this project more fun than an regular flat piece of art.

Like how I usually do, I used cardboard as well as magazine clippings decoupaged onto the background covered with acrylic and glitter. Yes, glitter!
Excuse the following photo, it's a bit grainy due to the fact that this was a saved Snapchat photo. I hadn't taken any other photos during the process leaving this one as my only photo. Besides, I kinda like the graininess.

Other than my usual layering method, I, for the first time, used fasteners to incorporate some movement. I used the fasteners on the swimmer's arms, so she can really swing.
I want to use fasteners more often, and that's a fact.

While diving into underwater research (hardy har), my friend and I discovered some information about mysterious underwater noises. I'm kinda really fascinated by it all but a little creeped out at the same time. You can find the most known sounds on Youtube. Here's a video with each of the six known noises.

The 'Train' noise for some reason creeps me out the most.

I've developed a new obsession: all things linocut.

It was a project we were assigned in a class, to create a linocut print. I had no idea what to carve or where to start in general. I purchased this starter kit that included an easy-to-cut block and carving tools.

I drew up a quick sketch which included elements from that Day Of The Dead illustration I did a while ago.

As it was intended, this block was super easy to cut and I finished carving in no time.
I printed with white acrylic printing ink.

To be honest, I sorta dreaded the idea of working with linoleum in the beginning. Of course, the nice part of experimenting is sometimes you discover a method of working that you really end up loving. I plan on messing around with linocuts this summer. #goal.

It's crazy how much time can pass. With the semester finally finished, I feel like I've jumped back into reality now that the summer break is finally here. The past few months, looking back on it, feels surreal, and not so much in a good way. I haven't been quite myself and I'm working on becoming myself again, which feels pretty successful so far. I miss blogging and am trying to get that started up again. This summer I have so much planned and I'm going to make it the most fantastic summer ever.

On the topic of the semester ending, I guess I'll post some projects that have kept me busy. This project resulted in one my favorite pieces. The assignment was juxtaposition. I created a scene of water life and galaxy life colliding with a deep sea diver observing underwater life.

I experimented on sheets of acetate and painted with acrylic. I created layers: the galaxy, underwater coral, the deep sea diver, and the deep sea creatures.

I stapled the sheets together and my brother created a wooden frame for me to give it a finished look.

And there you go.

I took advantage of my weird state I was in and experimented with a lot of different materials and subject matters. I'll post about those other projects another day.
Feels good to enter the world of blogging again!