Become Someone Else
I don't think I've ever really introduced myself, I'm Nat! I'm a strangely outgoing introvert (I thank my extroverts who always seem to find me and bring me out of my shell) who isn't afraid to try new things. I love all things creative: I am an artist, writer, teacher (elementary literacy tutor atm but in college again to become a high school art teacher), anime/manga lover, avid reader and book collector, lover of all music genres (shuffle on my playlists is a trip), theater kid, cosplayer, makeup artist, special effects artist, hobby photographer, custom D&D dice maker, 3d printing enthusiast, singer, licensed master aesthetician, weight lifter, very novice at crochet and sewing, and so much more since my ADHD never seems to let me pick one thing for too long. A jack of all trades if you will!
As part of an assignment from The Art Assignment, I figured I'd take a moment to find two photos that show different sides of me.
In the first photo, I was modeling for a roommate from my freshman year of college. I felt confident, beautiful, and playful as I posed, but I haven't always been that way. I was a quiet kid growing up, standoffish, uncomfortable sharing my interests in fear that I would come off as a nerd or unpopular, especially compared to my twin brother who was a lot more popular, athletic, and outgoing than I ever hoped to be. I didn't know if I had what it took to be noticed by anyone in any way that mattered, or if I would ever fit in with anything other than my art.
It took years of going into the world away from my small town to realize being myself was so freeing. In a sense I became someone completely different than the reserved individual I once was. I don't need just cosplay to help me become someone new. Now I'm weird, happy, and unafraid of enjoying things from all spectrums of hobbies even if it isn't everyone else's cup of tea; I learned if I like it, not everyone's opinion on the matter meant a single thing to my happiness unless I allowed it to. It started with practicing special effects makeup like I'd always wanted to, to dipping a toe into cosplaying, to focusing on my art after a four-year hiatus away from drawing a single thing, to enjoying all the creative options that had always been of interest.
That leads to my second photo over half a decade later.
My insomniac brain decided at 2 am I had inspiration to try doing a technique for fake freckles. They turned out well enough it inspired an entire original elf character to pop into my head! I got out my cosplay gear for an outfit and special effects makeup, then did an impromptu photoshoot. I loved it so much it has become my go to look for going to Renaissance Faires! I have the absolute confidence to feel comfortable cosplaying on a public train, going to the store, and meeting new people in or out of character. I wish the younger me could see the amount of growth we have so she could have an ounce of the peace of mind I do now.
Life is worth having fun and not being afraid to step away from the normal. If you always must be mindful of the judgement of others, you're too preoccupied to truly live in the moment and enjoy what really makes you happy. Go, be weird and thrive, my friends.
