This painting is about beginning to be myself, rather than who I thought I needed to be.

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It came from a time when I realised I had been shaping myself to be accepted — holding back how I really felt and adjusting my reactions to avoid conflict or disappointing people.

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At the time, that felt like protection. It helped me feel safe and kept things steady in my relationships. But over time, I began to notice the cost of living like that.

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It became exhausting and led to a growing sense of unhappiness. Something in me wanted to be more honest, even though it felt uncomfortable.

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In the painting, the act of removing the mask reflects that moment of change. The hands and face hold the effort it takes to let go of old patterns and begin to show up more honestly.