Emmi Pena

Emmi Pena (She/her)
Grade 10, The Urban School
Self Portrait
Mixed media
10in x 10in x 1in
2022
Not for sale

I have been creating art for a while, which is why I was so shocked that before this year I had never done a self-portrait. I have used myself as my muse but never have I actually tried to illustrate my face. I decided to apply for an art program a few months ago that I had to make a self portrait for. I took this assignment to really work out why I was so opposed to drawing my face, Was it that I couldn’t draw facial features properly, or that I just didn’t want to lose focus on the girl showcased in my art. Drawing my own face proved to be very difficult, but I stayed with it because it was for something that I truly wanted, experience. I decided to use collage and background art to add a little more of me to my piece. I decided to add scraps of newspaper stories that outline mental illness because of its importance to my life. Using an anxiety workbook, I took out scraps that resonated with me. I wanted my work to contradict the negative assumptions that I found while reading the articles. Adding in aspects of my own personal journey has been incredibly scary, but also has provided me with an immense appreciation for those who have helped me through this. I hope that my piece can help others to realize that there are people out there who understand and to know that you are never alone.