Let Them Come

Artwork story

For so long, I believed love and acceptance came from chasing people and seeking their validation. Growing up, I feared being defined by being raised by a single mother. I begged to be seen and constantly proved myself to people who never truly cared. This work reflects the moment I realized I had been chasing butterflies instead of becoming the flower. The colourful female portrait represents the parts of myself I gave away while seeking approval. The garden symbolizes my potential, originality, and the peace I found when I stopped performing for the wrong audience.

1. Theme: Self-love, self-discovery, and freedom from seeking external validation.

2. Process: Transforming personal experiences, childhood fears, and emotional struggles into visual storytelling through colour, symbolism, and composition.

3. Emotion: Vulnerability, pain, healing, self-acceptance, and inner peace.

4. Reference: The metaphor of butterflies being drawn to flowers inspired the idea of becoming the person you once hoped others would accept.