The cracks behind my Hello Kitty stickers

This series came about as my senior thesis and final show of my undergrad.
I work from family photographs, found by visiting and going through family members' houses. Sanding and color choices play a significant role in shaping my finished pieces. I render my images first, and then sand to take away detail, which leaves me with a ghost of my previous painting. Bright underpaintings can act as a sort of alert, straining your eyes and contradicting the close and maternal poses seen in a lot of these works.
As a child, I felt I had to grow up quickly, due to my older sister and I experiencing abuse throughout our childhood. I lacked any healthy parental presence and guidance, so I pushed away many of my childhood experiences. For my sister and I, nostalgic media acted as a form of escapism and comfort. Our bond and shared interests blossomed during hard times and have been with us ever since.