Shine

Shine, is my second piece as an independent artist. This is a piece that I started back in the beginning of 2023, directly after I finished Shimmer. This is an emotional piece for me because I was going though a huge identity crisis. Just graduating from college, no longer a football player, I messed up a huge job opportunity, looking for a job, searching for a purpose... I lost myself. This caused me to push people away, self isolate, a lot of my relationships with the people that I love were in shambles. Painting this picture surely reflected that. I restarted this painting over 20 times, I wanted to quit, I was tired of restarting. I just couldn't figure out why it didn't feel right. I came to realize the problem was that I was not taking the time to get familiar with myself as a man in the real world or as an artist. I was lost, I was trying to make this painting something other than what it was. I wanted it to be more like my first painting Shimmer, not realizing that I was no longer in that session of my life anymore. It took me almost three years, and lots of uncomfortable conversations to finally find some answers. I found some closure, some reassurance, and some personal growth. Next thing I know, I was able to finish this painting. Shine, helped me realize how important emotional intelligence, mental health and growth was.