Our last brief before the Diagnostic assessment has to be one of my favourites as I had total freedom over my work. I am also a routine-based person, but some independent work is needed to balance it. I decided to base mine bigger work on one of my sketchbook drawings in a purple monotone coloured pencil. This piece highlights how it is like to go through intense episodes of dissociation when someone struggles with coping with their mental illness. I see my episodes as purple, mixed with a lot of grey- blurry, cloudy vision, dim surroundings, a black fog in my chest- I am alive but I am unable to feel. It is as if life around me is getting further and further away from me, and I sit there looking fine when my brain shuts down to nothing. The dried gypsophillia flowers around me represent the not-feeling-alive state of mind ( I am currently drying some real ones to use as decoration on this artwork!). Besides the meaning behind it, I feel as if this piece really showcases how I can work a paintbrush and some mixed media and how I actually prefer big, bold pieces over small ones!
