Don’t Steal My Light
Don’t Steal My Light, Oil on 16”x20” Canvas, 2021
Don’t Steal My Light
scroll for work in progress photos
〰️
scroll for work in progress photos 〰️
The painting is a haunting and thought-provoking piece, with its photorealistic rendering of an adult figure holding a small child-like figure in its arms. The dark lighting surrounding the adult figure creates a sense of foreboding and unease, suggesting that something sinister is at play.
The child-like figure, on the other hand, is depicted as a bright, abstract flame, symbolizing innocence and purity. The flame reflects onto the body of the adult figure, highlighting the contrast between light and dark, good and evil.
The adult figure's face is particularly striking, with a large grin that could be interpreted in multiple ways. It is unclear whether the adult is being creepy, crying, trying to protect or take the child-like figure. This ambiguity adds to the painting's overall sense of mystery and intrigue, inviting the viewer to interpret the piece in their own way.
The hands of the adult figure are depicted as creepy and ominous, with one arm already wrapped around the child-like figure. This suggests that the child-like figure is in danger and that the adult figure may not have the child's best interests at heart.
Another important element of the painting is the worried expression on the child-like figure's face. This further emphasizes the sense of danger and vulnerability conveyed by the painting, as the child seems to be aware of the threat posed by the adult figure.
The child-like figure's flame-like form also represents the idea of someone taking your worth, as if the adult figure is attempting to steal the child's light or inner fire. This adds another layer of meaning to the painting, suggesting that it is about the struggle to maintain one's sense of self-worth and identity in the face of outside threats and negative influences.
INSPIRATION behind the piece
In 2020, I met a guy and developed feelings for him. However, after four months, he friend-zoned me. Despite this, I was adamant about having him in my life and denied the reality of the situation. One day, I received a commission to draw dogs and shared the news with him, as he was also an artist. I showed him the piece I had created and told him the amount I had made, but he belittled my work and suggested that it was only worth $50. His comments hurt me deeply and damaged my self-esteem. However, this experience inspired me to create "Don't Steal My Light," which became the starting point of my art journey. I am grateful for this situation as it gave me the motivation to continue creating, even if it was out of spite. I hope that the guy realizes his mistake and sees me as a successful artist one day. I blocked him on his birthday, and it was empowering for me.
In my situation, I felt worthless because the person I liked and respected belittled my art and talent. His comments suggested that my work was not valuable, which was damaging to my self-esteem, especially because I put a lot of time and effort into my art. I had taken on a commission and completed it within a week, which was a significant achievement for me. However, his negative comments stripped away my sense of accomplishment and made me feel like my hard work wasn't worth anything.
Feeling like someone has "stolen your light" is a metaphorical way of expressing the idea that your confidence and motivation have been taken away. When someone belittles your work or doesn't appreciate your efforts, it can make you feel like you're not good enough, and it can be challenging to regain your sense of self-worth. I created "Don't Steal My Light" as a way of reclaiming my confidence and reminding myself that I am talented and deserving of respect.
