2D Portfolio: Dyslexia
How can I express my emotions during my struggle with dyslexia, and how have I overcome my differences? After living with dyslexia for 16 years (age of creating portfolio), I wanted to express to my friends and family, who have seen my battle, what I experience everyday. For three of the works, I used old school papers to relate to my early struggles in school, especially with spelling. In other works, I used wire and string to show how my processing and word decoding takes longer because words get tangled in my brain. I started my journey feeling underwater, and then I found my ability to swim through this investigation. This is visually evident in serval works, which show my progression with dyslexia. Finally, I used the symbol of a dead butterfly to show metamorphosis, and how I have evolved. Throughout this investigation, I have experimented with my artistic abilities through materials and become more intuitive in my self portraits. After all my battles with dyslexia, I have conceded and learned to embrace my differences instead of fighting them. During my investigation, I expressed my transition from fight and suffering to finding beauty in being uniquely me.
Overworked
Dimensions: 12in x 12in
Materials: My old school papers, gesso, mod podge glue, black pen, and charcoal pencil on canvas board
Process: I collage my old torn school papers on the canvas. Then I gessoed over the papers where my face will be drawn. Finally, I used pen scribbles to create the pained portrait of myself. Charcoal was added to enhance depth.
Description: Expressing my struggle throughout school especially in language related classes. I wanted to show the anguish and exhaustion I feel daily.
Glass Ceiling
Dimensions: 24in x 18in
Materials: Acrylic paint, Golden gel matte medium, and palette knifes on plexiglass
Process: I mixed acrylic paints with paint thickener and then painted on the plexiglass in expressive strokes with a palette knife.
Description: Dyslexic holds me back and feels like a barrier I cannot break. I wanted to express this barrier as a clear and unseen wall. Others don’t know how much I struggle because I still get good grades. But dyslexia holds me back especially in intellectual confidence. Dyslexia is an inner struggle with myself.
Submerged
Dimensions: 6in x 6in
Materials: Acrylic paint and fluid acrylic on wood panel
Process: Photographed myself for reference focusing on facial expressions and water distortions. Drew my portrait on a wood panel. Used acrylic paint for the face, and fluid acrylic for flowing hair.
Description: When expressing my beginning struggles with my dyslexia, I think about struggling to breathe. I felt like I was drowning under the weight I what I love. Since I love to swim, I thought this would be the best way to express what it feels like to be hurt by what you love
I Piece Myself Together
Dimensions: 18in x 24in
Materials: Wood stain, fabric glue, watercolor, and fabric scraps on wood panel
Process: After dividing my reference picture into panels, I created a stencil to cut out and trace onto the assorted fabrics. The background is a wash of wood stain on finished panel. Ontop of the glued fabric, I added watercolor to enhance shading.
Description: This art piece represents my times in high school when I was drained by the long, grueling days of classes. I have to work double as hard as others with my dyslexia, and I would end the school day in a zombie state. Exhausted and tired, I had to collect the pieces of myself I lost when trying to fit into non-neurodivergent lifestyle.
Fish Eyes
Dimensions: 16in x 16in
Materials: Acrylic paint, and fluid acrylic paint on wood panel
Process: I photographed myself with a fisheye camera lens. Then I collaged different arrangements in photoshop by combining photos. Then, I translated the photoshopped photo on the wood panel and painted with acrylics. The fluid acrylic created the blending of the black boarder to create circular dimension.
Description: Dyslexia is outcasting. I feel strange and crazy trying to explain how my brain works. Sometimes, I even feel like a one-of-kind specimen being looked under a microscope by the judgmental world.
Tangled Thoughts
Dimensions: 24in x 18in
Materials: Wood stain, cotton string, tacky glue, copper wire, and watercolor on wood panel
Process: I glued the string intuitively onto the plexiglass, and then once dry, I peeled it off. This glue and string surface was then glued onto the wood panel. Then I watercolor washed the string to bring life to the portrait. I drilled holes in the wood to weave spiraled copper wire through.
Description: This piece shows how dyslexia works inside my head. It is a tangle of thoughts and neuropaths that jumble around in my head. I wanted to give a view of what it is like to be dyslexic. This is the turning point in my portfolio as I learn to accept and actualize my dyslexia.
Open Waters
Dimensions: 17in x 22in
Materials: Black pen on a map of the coast of California
Process: I found a map and drew an outline of a portrait of me swimming following the contour lines of the map. The contour lines created the image protruding from the map.
Description: This piece reflects the third piece, “Submerged,” as it is the antagonist. I learned how to swim and thrive by accepting my dyslexia. I used swimming and the feeling of the water to overcome my dyslexia and anger toward seeing the world differently. I learned to swim free.
Dead Butterfly
Dimensions: 20in x 20in
Materials: Acrylic paint, fluid acrylic, and fiber paste on wood panel
Process: Photographed myself and experimented with composition, upright or upside down, then played with placement of butterflies. Then, I drew the photo on wood panel and painted with acrylic and fluid acrylic. I applied fiber paste to represent the texture of a cocoon.
Description: The final piece of my portfolio is me emerging from this figural cocoon. While I am born anew with my view of dyslexia, I carry the past child within me who cried nightly doing her homework and struggled with self-identity. This old me is represented by the dead butterfly. I will always carry the person within me who has died.
Thank You!
Completed: (Junior Year of High School - 16 years old) (Teachers: Kaila Gottschling & Melissa McManus & Missy Rich) (Charlotte Catholic High School)
