"When I Am Nervous I Shuuuuut Down"-"Unveiling" the limited print collection

Artwork #7 of the 36-Piece Series: “When I Am Nervous I Shut Down” Unveiling: The Limited Print Collection
✨ Fan favorite piece — Only 2 of 10 available
📏 Size: 11 x 14.5
📅 Completed on: June 6, 2021
➡ Swipe to see the print version: The second image shows the actual print you’ll receive. It is sealed in protective cellophane, which may cause reflections or slight distortions. Once unwrapped, the colors and details will be fully visible in their true form.

“When I Am Nervous, I Shut Down”
This piece emerged during a time of self-discovery, when I was learning to embrace parts of myself that I once felt shame for. The vibrant graffiti aesthetic captures the energy I was learning to channel into my life. At the time, I didn’t fully realize it, but this work was a subconscious expression of the anxiety I felt from suppressing my uniqueness. I intuitively sketched characters and imagery in my sketchbook, letting them flow onto the canvas as if writing a diary entry. Back then, I hadn’t yet embraced this raw, expressive style, and this piece marked the beginning of it. It was also when eyes started to appear in my work, though they hadn’t yet taken on the spiritual and otherworldly essence they hold today.

📍 Took 2 weeks to complete
📍 Intuitive painting blending cartoon influences with graffiti aesthetics
📍 Created before I even knew of Jean-Michel Basquiat, though the comparison often comes up
📍 Materials: Acrylic paint, paint markers

This work serves as a milestone in my artistic evolution, capturing a moment of transformation and self-acceptance.