FREAK
2020
I am a freak because I am myself and I do not let others push me down or change me. I am a freak, I am me!
FREAK is a series of 8 portraits. Each painting is 11 x 9 inches, oil paint on wood panel. Each portrait is a version of myself, a version altered to reflect the purposeful slander of others. This includes a “normal” me which is here to expose the reality underneath the inflictions of others. The hurtful words of others is one of many things that has made me who I am today. Not necessarily the action of being called names but my reactions and how I took them formed me. Name calling was once a painful present, but has become the past that forms my actions towards others today.
Verbal bullying, which includes name calling, is the most common type of bullying. Name calling can be about a multitude of things but the type of name calling I focus on is about physical appearance since that is the majority of what I personally experienced. According to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center “One out of every five students report being bullied - The reasons for being bullied reported most often by students include physical appearance, race/ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation”. And according to Bullying Statistics “About 77% of all students [are] being bullied verbally in some way”.
There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these versions of me, real or not. For example in my painting Too Pale, there is nothing wrong with being extremely pale, or extremely dark for that matter, but when someone talks down to you and uses it as an insult it still hurts no matter how you feel about it yourself. I have learned that what makes you unique is not wrong, and it's actually great to be different and to stand out. It is what makes you, you.
You are allowed to love the things about yourself that others find shameful in you.
“School Bullying Statistics” Bullying Statistics Anti-Bullying Help, Facts and more, http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/school-bullying-statistics.html Accessed 11/2021
“Bullying Statistics” Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center, 11/2020, https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/stats.asp. Accessed 11/2021
FREAK is a series of 8 portraits. Each painting is 11 x 9 inches, oil paint on wood panel. Each portrait is a version of myself, a version altered to reflect the purposeful slander of others. This includes a “normal” me which is here to expose the reality underneath the inflictions of others. The hurtful words of others is one of many things that has made me who I am today. Not necessarily the action of being called names but my reactions and how I took them formed me. Name calling was once a painful present, but has become the past that forms my actions towards others today.
Verbal bullying, which includes name calling, is the most common type of bullying. Name calling can be about a multitude of things but the type of name calling I focus on is about physical appearance since that is the majority of what I personally experienced. According to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center “One out of every five students report being bullied - The reasons for being bullied reported most often by students include physical appearance, race/ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation”. And according to Bullying Statistics “About 77% of all students [are] being bullied verbally in some way”.
There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these versions of me, real or not. For example in my painting Too Pale, there is nothing wrong with being extremely pale, or extremely dark for that matter, but when someone talks down to you and uses it as an insult it still hurts no matter how you feel about it yourself. I have learned that what makes you unique is not wrong, and it's actually great to be different and to stand out. It is what makes you, you.
You are allowed to love the things about yourself that others find shameful in you.
“School Bullying Statistics” Bullying Statistics Anti-Bullying Help, Facts and more, http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/school-bullying-statistics.html Accessed 11/2021
“Bullying Statistics” Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center, 11/2020, https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/stats.asp. Accessed 11/2021
Freak
oil on wood, 11 x 9in $250.00 Spider Eyes/ Four Eyes
oil on wood, 11 x 9in $250.00 Too Pale
oil on wood, 11 x 9in $250.00 Anorexic/ Too Skinny
oil on wood, 11 x 9in $250.00 |
Unnoticed/ Left Out
oil on wood, 11 x 9in $250.00 Giraffe/ Too Tall
oil on wood, 11 x 9in $250.00 Beaver/ Bucktooth
oil on wood, 11 x 9in $250.00 Deviant
oil on wood, 11 x 9in $250.00 |
Expanding and Diversifying FREAK
2022 - present
FREAK has been my most relatable series since virtually everyone has experienced bullying at some point in their life. I want to expand that relatability by including others and diversifying the viewpoint by portraying other people's experiences of bullying, particularly name calling. If you haven't already please read the artist statement for my FREAK series (especially if you plan to submit something). If you relate to my series and have your own story you'd like to share, please email me with a brief description about the name/s, your experience with these specific name/s, and how you have or are trying to overcome the bad association of those names and accept these things about yourself if not love them. Along with this I will need a portrait of yourself. How to take the picture is listed below.
This series relies on real people's stories which is why I cannot just hire any model. Thank you to everyone who plans to or has submitted a story for my FREAK series. You are helping me spread awareness and positivity through artistic expression.
The information and images you provide me with will be used to create a painting for the FREAK series. The title of the painting will be the name you provided about name calling. The image you take will not be given or shown, it will only be used as a reference but will be depicted in the painting. Your email will be kept private. Please let me know if you want to be tagged in the finished product on Instagram, otherwise your name will also be kept private and will not be associated with the painting. The painting created with the information and image you provide will be made for the FREAK series by Kayla L Prigg. Kayla L Prigg remains the owner and creator of the painting.
How to take the picture (examples below)
The camera should be at least 5-6 feet away from you. You can use the shutter timer to take the picture if you're doing it alone.
Do not zoom in; it is better to crop the image after.
The camera should be slightly lower than your head for this portrait.
No clothing or accessories should be visible. Before sending make sure to crop the image at the pits above the chest area.
Only one light source; by an open window on a sunny day should work well. Do not face the window rather be perpendicular to it (one of your sides should face the window to cast a shadow on your face).
If possible take one image focused in the lightest highlights and one in the darkest shadows.
For glasses wearers, take one with and without glasses
Some situations may require the full body. In this case follow the same steps as above except of course, wear clothing. Particularly single colored clothing without stripes or patterns that can take away from the focus (unless this has to do with the focus).
The camera should be placed, again 5-6 feet away (or as far as needed to get the full body), but this time at the height of about your belly button or the center of your body.
This series relies on real people's stories which is why I cannot just hire any model. Thank you to everyone who plans to or has submitted a story for my FREAK series. You are helping me spread awareness and positivity through artistic expression.
The information and images you provide me with will be used to create a painting for the FREAK series. The title of the painting will be the name you provided about name calling. The image you take will not be given or shown, it will only be used as a reference but will be depicted in the painting. Your email will be kept private. Please let me know if you want to be tagged in the finished product on Instagram, otherwise your name will also be kept private and will not be associated with the painting. The painting created with the information and image you provide will be made for the FREAK series by Kayla L Prigg. Kayla L Prigg remains the owner and creator of the painting.
How to take the picture (examples below)
The camera should be at least 5-6 feet away from you. You can use the shutter timer to take the picture if you're doing it alone.
Do not zoom in; it is better to crop the image after.
The camera should be slightly lower than your head for this portrait.
No clothing or accessories should be visible. Before sending make sure to crop the image at the pits above the chest area.
Only one light source; by an open window on a sunny day should work well. Do not face the window rather be perpendicular to it (one of your sides should face the window to cast a shadow on your face).
If possible take one image focused in the lightest highlights and one in the darkest shadows.
For glasses wearers, take one with and without glasses
Some situations may require the full body. In this case follow the same steps as above except of course, wear clothing. Particularly single colored clothing without stripes or patterns that can take away from the focus (unless this has to do with the focus).
The camera should be placed, again 5-6 feet away (or as far as needed to get the full body), but this time at the height of about your belly button or the center of your body.
EXPANDING AND DIVERSIFYING FREAK
2022 - present
Gay/ Too Feminine
oil on wood, 11"x 9" 2022 SOLD |