I'm not usually scared of many things. But the most frightening image in my collection has to be smiling faces/characters. Even in real life– seeing people smile a lot makes me uneasy.
Why are you smiling like that?
A smile can sometimes say a lot about a person. It could mean different things– like being polite, manipulating, deceitful, to pretend. Regardless, smiles in every situation are similar to wearing a mask.
You are being stared at-- they are smiling. Almost like all your imperfections and anxieties are being looked at, and are somehow amusing.
Most of the characters I've painted have smiles on their faces, with some exceptions. It's just me confronting that fear. I live with a lot of my work, and to this day I question if I should. Painting these images helps me cope with that fear, and forces me to address it.
Or am I crazy?
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