#rayenae

But no matter how many times I’ve tried to give up on being an artist, no matter how many times I’ve sworn off art, I always end up coming back to it. It’s a part of me. The one constant in a life of chaos and doubt.

So I’ve finally decided that I’m done running away. It’s still scary, putting myself and my flaws out there for everyone to see. I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’m 100% confident in my work. But this is my purpose, my passion, and I don’t want to keep holding myself back. Every time I quit, not only did I stop myself from progressing and getting better, I got worse.

If there’s something you really want to do, but you’re worried about not being “good enough”, just remember that the door won’t be open forever. When you’re at the end of your life looking back, I guarantee you won’t be thinking “I’m sure glad I didn’t take that risk!” Instead you’ll just be asking yourself “what if?”

Vanitas

For this image I was inspired by the use of flowers in Vanitas paintings to represent the short, transient nature of life. Not going to lie, my first idea was to draw a generic pretty girl, because that’s always fun a staple for online art. When I made the vanities connection, however, I decided to give her some skeletal features instead. I also really like the idea of how the roses are growing through her, as though she is giving them life.