Ok, this past week I took one small baby step. I decided to start, to just start working, because I was tired of beating my head against the wall trying to figure out my concept. As I began to paint, more ideas flowed and linked together.

Sunny's mentorship and Mixed Media class is helping me out. I've tried different techniques, especially layering and sanding acrylic paints. So, I've begun these portraits involving layers of paint and text. The writing comes from interviews I conducted this past summer in Germany with young adults about their "coming of age" process and what it meant to them to approach adulthood. They still have have a ways to go and I'm learning how far I can push and pull through the layers. Color is also still tricky for me. And now, I'm actually wondering if I need the cameo-like portraits at all. Maybe the writing can be the art itself.