Faces of MeLaura Head

A journey in self portraiture during my years at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. -Laura Head

The following self portraits were inspired by the complexities of humanity. Every person, myself included, has multiple levels to their personas. People are more than their facades portray them to be. Not all levels of humanity are good, some fair on the darker side. Sorrow, hate, rage, secrets. My next few works are an ode to the deeper levels of humanity.

My art reflects the knowledge we seek of ourselves. Many times my work comments on the “good vs. evil” that dwells inside everyone, or the inner demons we all must face. The complexity of the human psyche is the concept I tried to convey through Beast Within. The work is a self portrait, dealing with the plurality in an individual’s make-up with a slight ambiguity adding mystery to the figure. The image began as a digital photograph which was modified using the repeated outline of the figure with respect to gradation, size and transparency. Also incorporated into the composition was my poem about the inner demons parasitic to our beings. I created the image using the text of the poem. The shades of red, gray, white, and black were chosen in order to gain a sense of melancholy and darkness. The overlapping of text(ture), one smaller and one larger, utilizes hues and slight gradations to create some depth in the areas of the “skin”. The mystery of the work brings the viewer in and captivates their interest. My work was inspired by my own personal thoughts and this is what I challenge the viewer to do; think, introspect, and learn of themselves.

My next piece has been one of my more successful pieces of digital work. Next I have images depicting the journey I went through in creating

“Beast Within”.

“Beast Within”2012

There is a beast within the depths of my being.

Pumping poison thru my veins slowly driving me past the brink of insanity.

Madness seeping out of my pores changing my outer identity.

My facade morphing and transforming to reflect the monster within.

The thought of relief is only a distant whisper in the darkest most vacant crevices of my mind.

Light slips away gradually, escaping my reach.

My fingers unable to grasp the last threads of humanity.

Rage engulfing and overcoming me, becoming my new identity.

The pain is my only everlasting punishment, forever imprisoned by the chains of my sins so I can never infect the souls of the innocent and pure.

Locked away in the darkest depths of my tainted soul.

Guarded by the beast within.

-Laura Head

Hope you enjoyed!