Outside the Lines

Anna Lam

I have joy, joy, joy in my heart
gouache on paper

I do lots of art but this is my first self portrait and I wanted to try it. I looked at library books and measured the paper carefully for 15 inches so I would do it right. I woke up at midnight to paint. I painted fast, on many sizes of paper, not just the square. The radio was on and I was talking to myself, “I can do it”.

I don’t think I’m disabled. I learn slowly, but then I can do it. In the beginning when I found out I have a mental illness, I was scared. Some people think it’s a shameful thing that means you did something wrong. But I found out mental illness is not so scary. Now it’s nothing, I’m laughing all the time.

This self portrait is a happy feeling inside me. I like bright colours. Dark colours are ok too, but I don’t like dull, dead colours.

Paul Lang