Self Reflection #1: A Leopard Never Changes its Spots
The piece, "Leopard Never Changes Its Spots," is a defiant mixed-media blind portrait celebrating unwavering self-identity in the face of judgment. The central figure, an aggressively styled French Bulldog named "Princess," represents a girl who refuses to temper her vibrant style—illustrated through the loud leopard print, neon green scarf and pink glitter—despite the surrounding scrutiny. The floating, redacted faces with black bars over their eyes symbolize the collective, "blind" nature of external critics, while the angry red scribbles visually represent the friction and emotional tension created by their disapproval. Ultimately, the work champions the girl's resilience and her inherent ability to bring joy (represented by the heart-topped wand) to the world, proving that authentic self-expression is a non-negotiable force that criticism cannot diminish.