125

This ongoing series initially started after my cancer diagnosis in 2016. The pen and ink portraits were composed during the long hours at the... more

by Jeremiah Ray

Title

125

Artist

Jeremiah Ray

Medium

Digital Art - Digital Painting

Description

This ongoing series initially started after my cancer diagnosis in 2016. The pen and ink portraits were composed during the long hours at the treatment clinic and lengthy inpatient stays. These works became increasingly crucial to understanding my emotional and psychological state that elude words even to this day. During treatment, my body remained strong regardless of whatever brutal circumstances I found myself in. My heart and mind, on the other hand, were always teetering. As I have done my entire life, I anchored myself to art, specifically these self-portraits. I did so to understand and come to terms with my experiences. However, pen and ink drawings are evolving, growing, and shifting as I do. I am adding new layers, digitally editing, and building colorful stories to create different, supplemental layers upon the narrative each one already tells. The story is still evident in each portrait, but now, the bright patterns and vivid textures speak to the Jeremiah of the present day. The foundational elements of this body of work will forever be present. They hold my history – each line and mark represents a place of struggle and, thus, growth. As individual pieces of art, they, too, must grow. In moving forward with digital manipulation, layering, collaging, etc. I am giving them a chance to do just this. They are growing, and so too am I.

Uploaded

August 3rd, 2023