A Powerful Dream - This piece is showing a young boy standing shyly in a pair of heels. From him, a stark shadow shows the silhouette of a grown drag queen. The piece is meant to show the power the boy will feel once he is able to live as he truly feels. This work has personal meaning as well. I have created a drag persona in the last couple of years, and it wasn't until I got into drag my first time that I understood the powerful feeling one gets from it. It's exhilarating and empowering in the best way.
Confidence - This piece is all about self-esteem and confidence. Eric (they/them) has had a paper bag metaphorically placed on their head due to society's standards and viewpoints of our community. They have been led to feel lesser than and this image is showing them having the confidence to burn away that paper bag and show the world who they really are as a human. I have struggled with low self esteem for a long time but I (like Eric) have come a long way throughout the years to be confident enough to live as my true self. This concept is one I think a lot of us can relate to and I hope one day we can all live as our best selves.
Nature's Clarity - This piece is about mental clarity. For me, someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, my mind doesn't like to slow down and allow me to think clearly very often. It is when I am in nature that my mind slows down and I can actually think clearly and feel at peace. For this reason, the subject in the image is gravitating towards nature outside of the window. She is seeking the mental clarity that nature will provide.
A Bright Light - This piece is about charisma. My husband is the definition of the word in every possible way. This image is showing him performing and from his voice/performance, the room comes alive, colorful and vibrant. His charisma lights up any room that he enters. As I was creating this piece, I had a realization. I used to be a lot like my husband in this photo. It wasn't until I was dating him that I realized that I am actually an introvert that has learned how to live in an extroverted world. Growing up in a conservative rural town, I felt that I needed to be the center of attention and be the outgoing one to get everyone to like me. In my mind, I thought that if everyone liked me, it wouldn't be a big deal if they ended up finding out about my sexuality. Many years later when I started dating him, I realized that I didn't have to be center stage all of the time, so I learned to still have that charisma but in a much more subdued fashion that fits me better as an individual.
