A/N Hey My Lovelies!!! So, this painting is a little different from what I normally paint for two reasons... #1: it is more of a concept and abstract design than anything, and #2: it was painted on my iPad using my new Apple Pencil.
There is a bit of a story behind this painting so bear with me...
Some of you may have heard me talking about my former manager, Damien, before (see the last chapter of this book for a sketch of him). Damien is transgender, and has just recently undergone top surgery. During the weeks leading up to his surgery, I noticed a change in his emotions.
Fun fact about me: I see emotions and feelings in colour. So each individual emotion appears as a different colour when I look at someone.
I have known Damien through the majority of his transition, as I started working for him only a few months after he came out as trans, so I have seen first-hand his struggles with mental illness and the dysphoria he suffers from. I was the first person he told when he got approved for testosterone, and he was incredibly open with me about how the hormones were affecting his body. I was always thrilled when he would share the latest development, as I could see the colours of his emotions flash with brighter colours than before, and it satisfied my Ravenclaw nature to know everything I could possibly know. So when he told me he had been approved for surgery, needless to say, I was thrilled for him, and cried several times over out of joy for my friend.
Despite the fact that he still struggles with depression and dysphoria, I can see the change in his emotions, the colours becoming brighter and less harrowed by darker colours than before.
This painting is meant to represent the process of Damien coming into himself, and learning to love the body he is creating for himself.
The colours and what they represent are:
Black: depression
Red: Anger, self-hate, self-loathing
Dark Blue: anxiety
Green: Envy of others and the life that is desired
Yellow: Joy
Pink: Love of self and others
Purple: Contentment with life and living
Light Blue: Acceptance of self and life
White: Peace with self and life