Neuro-noncomformist

Self Portrait

April 15, 2026

If everyone is neurodivergent, nobody is. I am not divergent from the norm. I am not conforming to the unnatural way of life we live. The world we’ve created asks us to go against our true nature and self.

I was thinking about a separate design when this idea came to me. I was excited to try a self portrait in my own style.

The orange lines represent the way I think and are meant to show my thoughts reaching out or flowing in.

This piece was worked on over the course of a month or so. Starting with the substrate construction and forming. I had the rough frame form in my office for a while before I was able to sand it and refine it. The process was similar to ‘Soul Searching’ for the surfacing. This time I used a latex paint over the gypsum before adding the design. I noticed on previous pieces, the raw gypsum would have uneven tones and some yellowing. The paint helped smooth the surface and provide a consistent base layer. I used a crosshatching stroke that left a canvas like texture as well.

I could feel the changes in my overall process throughout the course of this work. I am figuring out more of my technique and what I plan to do in the future.

There’s something about making this portrait while feeling I am coming into myself as an artist, that is special to me.