I chose to do a composition based upon my experience of free/creative writing. From the first SSC session I have been keeping a diary which has helped me to get to know myself again after a great deal of upheaval… Writing down my thoughts and then incorporating techniques introduced to us in the Creative Writing session, helped me to realise what was really important to me and to laugh at myself sometimes; to accept that life is often hard but you can roll over and give up or recognise the bad days and hope for and look forward to the good ones.

My painting is a self-portrait of me, writing. My hair is covering my face, this is to illustrate that when I initially pick up the pen, I am hiding from something; I am not in tune with myself. From the page I am writing on emerges my reflection; the idea that my identity is revealed to me as I write.

I am really pleased with the finished painting. I limited the number of colours I used and kept the composition simple, with no details on my clothes, the pen or in the background, this creates a tranquil and calm feeling so that only the image of me writing, and my reflection emerging from the page are important.

When I am writing I lose myself and forget where I am, stopping is like waking up – when you slowly come to and realise where you are; this is the atmosphere I tried to create with the painting.