Starting to think that I'm actually gonna see all my friends naked by the time this is over.
-Quarantine, 2020

The other day a friend asked on his IG story what makes you feel loved, and I replied - When looking in the mirror went from "I hate you," to "I love you, and I got you." This statement has been such an influential pick-me-up for me because I distinctly remember growing up and how fabricated or deluded, my self-esteem was. I felt like shit all the time. Bless my mother; she lived through that hurt with me. After a full day of being teased for being a skinny stick and for being gay, I would beat myself up even more, diminishing my self-worth and just under-appreciating life in general. As if my mom wasn't working two jobs and 16-hour shifts to keep us afloat. Looking back on those times now, so much of it seems so trivial to me. It makes me envious of the wasted time I spent worrying about so many opinions from others when I should have been enjoying my adolescence. I should have been more creative. I should have been talking with my mom more - I wish I knew who she was before the world hurt her too. It's strange being an adult. Fast forward to today, I couldn't love myself more, and every day welcomes a new opportunity to love myself harder and hopefully encourage others to do the same.

#ArtistsSupportingArtists

Y'all know that's the motto, forever. With each commission I receive, I purchase a piece from another artist. Just to keep money flowing cause we all know a little bit goes a long way. This is my second purchase from a wonderful illustrator, James Jeffers who I stumbled upon months ago because of his Pokémon commissions. He has an array of series as well as prints for purchase. When I saw he was illustrating nudes, I had to join!

Why nudes? Despite what most people may believe, it's not about showcasing genitalia what so ever. It's about capturing a portrait in time, this moment, right now - from another person's perspective mind you. I could draw self-portraits all day, in fact, I believe it's crucial for artists to produce one every couple of years if not annually. But having that outside insight on how someone sees you has so many benefits. Maybe they'll highlight your favorite feature, or make you aware of certain aspects about yourself. Possibly even exaggerate features or downplay them. I love the anticipation and was surprised at the final result. What I genuinely enjoy about this are two things: my relaxed demeanor and my little nugget thighs. I’m so content, thank you James.

Journal

Artists Supporting Artists