Identity – Merry Schlarman

For my 14 months later project, I wanted to illustrate the journey I’ve had with my own identity. While these past 14 months have been a struggle in isolation, I’ve also had the opportunity to grow as a person in the time I’ve had to myself. I’ve been given the time to examine who I am as a person, and who matters to me. COVID-19 has allowed me to give an outside look at the connections I share between others that I truly cherish. In this piece, I wanted to convey my own self-reflection through a self-portrait. For contrast, I illustrated my struggle with identity through the stylized figures around the portrait. These 14 months are a unique experience that I certainly do not wish to repeat, but because of them, I’ve truly grown into a person I’m more comfortable with.