E. Batista

Art reflects one’s personality. The standard of modern art is seen as realistic strokes of pencil and different shades of gradient casting against paper like a rocky trail. However, my goal is to show the world that cartoonish—vibrant colors and sparkling expressionist styles should be normalized as a way of one’s expression. In the modern art world, artists are forced behind a wall of realism, the only acceptable, professional art style. If artists are limited to creating to please professionals, their talents will never be shown. Art, to me, is a way of creating in a way unlike any other. Having an idea in one’s mind and being able to create it in a way nobody has done brings me happiness. As an animated person, my art intends to capture my emotions onto the piece and pour my happiness—that I receive while creating—into my canvas.

Anime is a big inspiration to me. This painting goes outside of the modern-art-standard and makes me inspired to create art in a way that’s never been done before. This painting is a coming-out artwork, a ticket to my unlimited self-discovery. Using the inspiration from anime, I poured my favorite features of the style into a piece that’s sincerely important to me. The patches on my bag strap hold tremendous importance in my life. Representing sexuality and self-identity, and showing the world who I am, is an anxiety-inducing experience. Still, through art, I can make it a bit more bearable.

When I first heard about this project, I was hesitant. I’ve never been too confident in my art, and I was worried about how my negative emotions toward my art would reflect on the project. But, as I went in and the thrilling weeks went by, I became more comfortable sharing my artwork with others. The motivation and criticism I received from those who watched over our projects helped me in a way no one has done before. Being a stranger to painting, I was severely anxious to press a brush onto the canvas. Still, with those around me, I could break free from the uncertainty and paint my ideas perfectly. This project was an opportunity I was unsure if I should take. As I painted the last stroke on my canvas, I wouldn’t regret signing the paper for me to be involved.