- Year
- 2023
- Medium
- Oil on Canvas
- Size
- 30 × 36 in · 76 × 91 cm
She stands alone under the blooming tree, her fingers gingerly caressing the soft pink petals. While the joy of spring surrounds her, a quiet sadness lingers in her downcast eyes. This is "What About Me", a portrait exploring the gentle melancholy of being overlooked.
At first glance, it depicts a solitary female figure amid vibrant natural beauty. Only on closer inspection do the small details emerge - the slight droop of her shoulders, her distant gaze fixed not on the blossoms but some indifferent distance. These subtle cues hint at a feeling just below the surface, one I'm sure many can relate to in their own quiet moments. We've all known that sense that however happy others may seem, their joy does not diminish our own solitude.
It was my wish with this painting not to lament or exaggerate such sentiments, but to capture their essence with compassion. My hope is that viewers might see in this unnamed woman not just her loneliness, but something of their own humanity - our shared capacity for both satisfaction in others' joy, and reflection on what is lacking in our own lives. Though the scene seems tranquil, within is that reminder of our inevitable aloneness and desire to be valued. It is an intimate glimpse into feelings often left unsaid, and a reflection on how fleeting intimacy can feel from the outside looking in.