Elle Phun; digital collage #cosmic #elephant #lavender #skipping #crow #midwestartist #artistoninstagram #artoftheday🎨

Created with soft pastel with my non dominant hand, not too shabby if I do say so myself <pats back vigorously with non dom hand>. Created for the April art dare @art.prof #softpastels #nondominanthand #artprofdare #artoftheday🎨 #wisconsinart

Completed my 'copy the master painting'... gotta love some Klimt! #copythemaster #acrylicpaintingoncanvas #paintingsofinstagram #artnouveau #redhead #paintingclass #gustavklimt

Primordial soup; digital collage Been a hawt minute since I slapped together some cosmic daydreams on y'all. Been really busy learning new things. #cosmicknowledge #worldtortoise #wisconsinmade #digitalcollage #collage #digitalart #universe #contemporaryartist

Just like her; acrylic on canvas 16x20 Trigger warning: addiction, mental health, disordered eating Another recreation of an old photo, Mom and I at the beach. This was around the time she fell off the wagon, drinking and using. There's my apparent apprehension to her closeness, and I'm hugging that pillow for dear life. Not many pics of me in a bathing suit because this was peak for my anorexia. In hindsight, it's not coincidental that the more out of control I felt, the more I obsessively clung to any sense of control. This was not long after they sent me to an inpatient drug treatment against recommendations. I was partying, but not like I needed to be sent away for 3 months during freshman year. The start of my descent from education, I later got a GED. The pendulum swing of extremely strict to literally using with me was breathtaking. The sense of betrayal from my only rock was never resolved. How could I trust, believe, or feel safe with anyone? The photo shows it in the body, and the fake smiles belied what it said.That body is still this body, and it remembers what the heart tries to forget. I'm still working through those issues, with the body, with safety, with loving that girl and this one. I'm working through disordered eating, a reason why I still have a hard time being in front of the camera. My therapist is helping me navigate feelings with this project. It's slow moving to be mindful. Not sure how many I plan to do, but probably a few more. I worry, I don't abuse drugs/alcohol (anymore), but I do use food. I worry I'll be just like her, like Mom. I know that girl there wanted someone to just like her, love her even. I'm the same age now as my Mom was in that picture. Maybe she just wanted someone to like her, too. Maybe she wanted me to like her, forgive her even. She's gone now, but she's still here. And I'm working on it, Ma. #addiction #contemporarypainter #traumasurvivor #bingeeatingdisorderrecovery #wisconsinwomenartists #arthealing #dysfunctionalfamily #authenticartist #selftaughtartist #fineart #cptsd #artislife🎨 #paintingsofinstagram #acrylicpaintingoncanvas #generationaltrauma #artcollectors #emergingartists #midwestartist #artwork

Just des(s)ert(s) Analog collage wirh cherries drawn with alcohol markers and acrylic markers. Fun little project for @art.prof February art dare: dessert. #artprofdare #cherrydessert #desert #icanspell #doubleentendre