Self Portrait in Sub-Mission by Sean Samuel Kelly

“This drawing came to me in a dream, thus the title.  I was having one of those eye-opening episodes we all have in our early twenties.  Trying to find my purpose in the grand scheme of things, the cosmic connections, the wanting heart and desperate brain.  I was feeling kind of low and inspired.

I lived in a little farming community about ten miles outside of Chico California called Capay.  I lived with my grandparents.  My grandpa was an old cowboy who was known for his little doodles and drawings that were scattered about his home and workshop.  Mainly little cartoons of cowboys urinating on a cactus or something silly.

He was watching me one day as I was drawing my self portrait.  He was giggling and giddy about it.  It made him proud to share his creative gift with me.  The piece itself comes from a deep, dark place but humor and balance are evident throughout, like life I guess.”

-Sean Samuel Kelly from Portland, Oregon

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Doodle by Tara Joyce of Rise of the Innerpreneur

Doodle by Tara Joyce, writer, speaker, and creator of Rise of the Innerpreneur, and Elastic Mind.

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Meet Michelle: An extremely passionate career woman. Photo Credit: www.WhenIGrowUpCoach.com

I see myself as very bright (color-wise) & energetic & quirky & welcoming, which explains the big smile & the outstretched arms.  But when I went to label things, I immediately saw the arms as ‘jazz hands’ & added that element of my personality – the musical theater performer – into the self-portrait, too. My favorite quote is, ‘Always reach for the moon – even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.’  I always feel a sense of opportunity & awesomeness when I look at the sky, so stars have always held something symbolic for me.  I had to include them here!”

-Michelle Ward, the When I Grow Up Coach in New York City

Portrait by Jonah Trople using Acrylic, Bob Ross Gesso on paper and wood

“I am a 21 year old art student at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Recently I moved into an attic of a single mom of two, ages three and twelve. At first, I was hesitant, I’m more than down with attics – but single moms and kids? The move was necessary though, I couldn’t afford anything else and previous to this I was living out of my rusting VW Bus, anything was better.

I’ve been living in their attic for about two months now, and it has turned out this has been one of the coolest learning experiences ever. Nothing reminds you of what it’s like to be a three year old better than living with one. It’s put a perspective on everything – what an awful three year old I must have been! Since moving in with this family I have reflected on my own relationship with my parents a lot.

My parents had me in their teens, got married, and then went through college while raising me. For some reason, prior to moving in with this single mother and her two children, I never gave a thought to how much work my parents put into my upbringing. Imagine having a kid in your teens AND going through college at the same time!

I will admit, I wasn’t a typical child – I was a real problem – an honest horror story (I still kind of am…) I can’t believe how much love my parents gave to me, how awful I was, and how hard it must have been for them.

I decided to paint a self-portrait while I was still in the womb to explore (and pay respect to) the love my mother and father gave me. I painted them at their wedding and me in my mother’s stomach. After I had finished this painting I decided to paint myself at their age so I could compare how different our lives were at the same age. wow. Thanks mom and pop.”

Art and story by Jonah Trople

“This is one of my best features … soft, warm and much friendlier than the crooked teeth they hide.”

-Koko from Portland, Oregon

The stories of my five friends and myself: These are telegram style.

Bob B. went to war and didn’t come back.  Bob S. got hooked on weed and is now a junky.  The other Bob S. hasn’t come around for a while.  Bob H. stole my girl and I still want to punch him.  And Bob V. isn’t named Bob at all.   His name is Joel.  My story is art is dead.  I killed it. This is my self-portrait and the self portraits of my friends if I say so.

-Patrick Waldron

To who it concerns: John C. Kuchera is now living in Harlem, a downtown boy
from the early 1980s is now enjoying the open spaces uptown.

John C. Kuchera has been painting and drawing for years, his style is refreshing and
enjoyable, he uses many a medium but he likes pen and ink and oils with
acrylic. A printer, photographer a porter at Columbia University, farm
worker, security guard in Maine (guarding mice) a janitor cleaning banks,
even a copy writer, his most famous copy was, Yes, Virginia we do toilets
(for a Cleaning service) © Kuchera”

Thank you, John, for guarding mice and adding your peace to this site.

“I have been drawing and painting since as far back as I can remember.  In almost every childhood picture of me I have a pacifier in my mouth and a crayon in my hand.  Art class was my refuge in high school.

I drew or painted almost every day until my first year of college.  I don’t know how it happened, but I got it into my head that I was a big fraud.  I had a sinking feeling that I somehow wasn’t a real artist, and it was only a matter of time before everyone else figured it out.  I didn’t make art for years.

Then one day not too long ago, something happened that made me angry.  And not just regular angry – burning with the fire of a thousand suns angry.  I stormed into my apartment and had the thought that I was either going to light the place on fire or find a way to channel my energy elsewhere.  After briefly considering what prison would be like, I chose the latter.  Without thinking I grabbed my paint brushes and this picture just fell out of me onto the canvas. Talk about therapy!

Making this painting reignited my inspiration.  Lately I can’t seem to stop, and my tiny little apartment is losing walking space every week as I get canvas after canvas.  These days I am much less angry.”

-Story and art by Rachel Rolseth in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A self-portrait by Rick Hutchinson. Check out his work on 723.com as teds53913.  My favorite: “The Caterpillar King”.

Actually, I would even go as far as to say I am a narcissist. So after all of this judgment on myself, I stopped. Took a step back. And asked: Who cares?

The only person who can really affect my opinion of myself is me. Sure, a boyfriend can have preferences of which I may try to accommodate. I may have to dress a certain way for work to be ‘appropriate’. Even society will have views and judgments on my outer-appearance. However, who are they to judge me?

I’ve spent 25 years letting society judge me. The only thing that has led to is severe depression, a hole in my wallet trying to ‘keep up with the Joneses’, and an overall sense of defeated self-worth.

So I stopped right there and forced myself to stop covering up my face with hundreds of dollars in makeup from the most lavish boutiques and bare it all to the world.

At first, I was intimidated by what I thought was judgment. Can they see the circles under my eyes? The size of my pores? Blemishes? Birthmarks? However, after a few days I forced myself to truly look at myself.

I started to appreciate my features. My wholly unique features that characterize who I am. Then I started to look deeper. My laugh is big and bold, just like my personality. My heart is open, willing to be crushed, but always a true romantic. My spirit forces me to continue on with charitable deeds – something I’ve always held close to me.

Sure, I’ve got an evil streak, but forcing myself to truly appreciate what I have and what I can offer made me realize that the only judgment is that which I place on myself.

My dear friend Kira once reached out to women everywhere to wear high heels, embracing height. I urge everyone to put yourself out there, naked to the world and force yourself to see how beautiful you really are. Go to a bar. Go to work. Anywhere. I promise. After a few days you will start to see yourself in a brand new light. You will find an inner confidence that will radiate from people to people.

Embrace your natural essence and see that there is nothing more fantastic that everything that makes you, uniquely you.”

-A self-portrait by Tina Alias from New Jersey.

It must be said that Tina has an absolutely contagious bolt of laughter.