An Artist’s Reflection

Hailey Higdon-O’Mara

He gazed into his own eyes, so full of life in something that is not. Mostly just layers and mixes of paint mounded onto a canvas to appeal to the eyes of the masses. And yet not his. Each brush stroke was important, even with its impurities. Every mistake a part of the life it drew into being. A part of the journey his creation brought. Making his mark on this barren white canvas we live in, he painted only what his eyes could grasp. He created reality. Not what he or others wanted to see. Not what we wanted to delude ourselves to. Just what was. No fancy lies to hide the insecurities he held. No breaking down to the pressures society puts on us all. He painted the truth, no matter how much we may try to push it away. Just a man, clad in veracity. This lone artist, in his room of brushes and paints. Alone with his reflection. His head held high with admiration and pride in his true self he could see. Lost in his own eyes as his creation stared back with the same content gaze. Proud of its creator for acknowledging what truly was. Admiring the strength in the normality they carried. As if it could see through all the scrutinous eyes he once had to push through to make it this far. As if it could see all the distasteful gazes he once put upon himself, now a shower of acceptance and satisfaction. Stretching out its hand in mutual affirmation. An artist with his greatest creation. Himself.