Finally releasing this to the world.
To see behind the scenes posts, sneak peeks, artist statements, and completed images up to a month ahead of public release, please consider donating to my Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/LindseyBurcar
"Be Brave" is the first completed of a series of three images revolving around my own personal struggle with mental health and my journey for emotional growth. This piece represents a pivotal moment in my life where I decided to face my demons, mainly anxiety and depression, head on despite how seemingly insurmountable, dark, intimidating, and overwhelming they feel. This is the moment of turning; the moment it is decided that enough is enough, even if I don't yet know which tools are the right ones to help me win this fight.
While "Be Brave" is the first to be completed, it will be the middle piece in the completed triptych with "Succumb" as the first, and the third yet unnamed.
There is a lot of symbolism to unpack with this piece, weapons scattered and hidden about, all broken because they are the wrong tools, mirrored wounds and poses shared between the figure and the bear, etc. To read more up on it, I've made these two Patreon posts about its process and completion public because I felt like the meaning behind this piece was too important to me, too potentially relatable, and helpful to others not to share.
"Be Brave" - A Personal Journey Through Art (WIP) - patreon.com/posts/27538260 (This post details my struggles with doing any personal art what so ever, the journey it took to get me to start, and what that meant for me emotionally.)
"Be Brave" - A Personal Journey Through Art (Final Artist Statement) - patreon.com/posts/32090080 (This post details more briefly the symbolism behind the final image and their meanings, as well as how emotionally artistic expression has been changed for me forever.)
Thanks so much for reading and wish me luck on my continuing journey.
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Bear (Other)
Gender Female
Size 1280 x 720px
Listed in Folders
Goodness this is wonderful; Your art has a tendency to provoke some profound thoughts, in my case, and this is also a much needed message. Good luck, Rhos!
Absolutely gorgeous. So foreboding, the entire forest just flayed open to display the battle. Congratulations on finishing it!
Thank you! Flayed open and unearthed is exactly what I was going for. Thanks so much!
Loved the piece.
Read the posts....
ADORE THIS PIECE! (And sharing it around)
Read the posts....
ADORE THIS PIECE! (And sharing it around)
Aw, I'm so glad it resonated with you. Thank you so so much, and for passing it around as well!
it is just so good to be seeing you again... and your work, as always, is stunning!
V.
V.
Reading the description after seeing this reminded me of some things I've been through, and are still going through, to be honest. Got me a smidge choked up too. Reminds me of a piece I commissioned (as I'm no artist), called "Breaking Point", inspired by similar feelings, of something of an epiphany from my subconscious where I finally knew, "you know what, my demons will not drag me down, will not break me. I don't know how to go about this fight, or how long it'll take, but it's a fight I refuse to, and will not, lose."
I'm really happy to hear that it resonated with you! Talking about stuff like this publicly is really scary and uncomfortable at times but I find that its... super helpful for getting past it and continuing to work on it, knowing that other people have gone though similar things and gotten on the other side. Doesn't mean you'll always remain on the other side, but now its tangible, known, and has a face. Being vulnerable seems to help with the healing, and in the words of a quote from a movie I saw recently and cried through the whole thing "anything mentionable is manageable."
I can relate with this, a lot.
I've struggled with depression since I was in grade school, then about 5 years ago I began to develop anxiety and eventually it got to the point where I was convinced I'd die if I got out of bed. While suffering 3-5 panic attacks on a daily basis.
It is an absolute bitch to fight against day after day, got my sympathies and if you ever feel like you need to talk to some rando on the internet - my door is always open. :3
Wonderful piece of artwork, very expressive and best of luck standing up to your demons.
I've struggled with depression since I was in grade school, then about 5 years ago I began to develop anxiety and eventually it got to the point where I was convinced I'd die if I got out of bed. While suffering 3-5 panic attacks on a daily basis.
It is an absolute bitch to fight against day after day, got my sympathies and if you ever feel like you need to talk to some rando on the internet - my door is always open. :3
Wonderful piece of artwork, very expressive and best of luck standing up to your demons.
Gosh I am so sorry that this is something that you had/have to endure with the intensity that you describe. I'm so glad that my work has resonated with you, and hope so much that you can/have found the right tools to heal and find balance, understanding, and a way to work around/ with your hindrances to a happier and more harmonious life. It can be such a puzzle, and different for us all.
Thanks so so much and good luck to you as well!
Thanks so so much and good luck to you as well!
Wow, this big guy looks very formidable.
I like it)
Very beautiful and atmospheric art.
And the bear is just gorgeous :3
I like it)
Very beautiful and atmospheric art.
And the bear is just gorgeous :3
Gorgeous work. You well captured how indomitable depression and anxiety feel. I hope the project helped you!
Thank you so much! It certainly has. Working on this and other difficult emotional topics seems to have unlocked my flow of visual artistic expression that once only came from surface level interests, to that deep place stirred by music and poetry. Personal work was hard to do and I didn't like that my pieces felt emotionally empty and devoid of "me." Now I feel so much more fulfilled and I've painted more in the last 4 months than I have in the last year combined!
That sounds like such a great journey and honestly it's super inspiring to me. I often wish that I could draw those inner twists and turns of my deep self. Thank you for sharing!
Powerful lighting and shading work. Yeah......all those negative feelings and thoughts are always there to drag on you. I hope you're doing better.
Wow i love the ambient here, looking rather dark and epic, all what i love <3
This is one of our favorite artworks ever! We spent a lot of time looking at it, analyzing it... there are so much details. Wow.
I bought this as a playmat at MFF and my mom stole it T.T
Do you have a store? So i can rebuy?
Do you have a store? So i can rebuy?
Aww that sucks! Haha, yeah here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/780130....._home_active_6
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