its for the contest extreme expressions.. i loved the idea and that is why i chose this contest to loose my contest virginity to, C:

i hope that i explain this clearly enough as i extremely thought out this picture, i literally thought about everything i put into it.

i'm proud of it as it expresses what i feel at the moment and lately i have been feeling as if i can't express myself even artistically anymore but i think i have in this painting

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Technical Stuff

Sketch - 25 minutes (i took reference photos of myself before sketching)
Painting - 2.5 hours over about 4 days (after i drew it i re sketched it onto watercolour paper)

Paper: Coldpressed 140lb

Watercolours; dried (faber castell) and tubes (some cheap brand) i don't really use quality paint, i should probably invest..
i also used a artline 0.6 felt tip pen for the words..
i only used small paintbrushes from sizes 0.5 to 12

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Symbolism

so this picture is generally about the emotions of bottling everything up and keeping it around you to fester and create all these other emotions and also being afraid of how others will judge you on what you are feeling and not trying to feel them..

The face in this picture is showing surprise from the eyes, she is surprised that she is doing this, the mouth it emitting feelings from inside, she is shown with crease lines as well from stress of doing this to herself.

She is leaning towards the bottle that holds her feelings as if they are precious, she is trying to protect them from the judgment of others, although she does not want them in her she still keeps them around her (that's whats in the background) she is standing in front of them and this is making her unhealthy and sick..

her hair has the action of fire, like when you have kept things in for so long that they ignite and you can not control them anymore.

i used earthy tones to portray that what you feel is natural and emotions are everywhere and common, yet you can feel dirty and disgusted with them.
the blue in the background is representing the coldness and numbness that you feel after a long time of bottling up your emotions, without them ever inflaming.

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the title is obviously inspired by Build it up Buttercup which is a song.. i listen to the one by Busted and McFly because i go weak at English accents..