"Self Awareness" Hand-Painted Acrylic Painting on Paper 11Hx14Wx1.5D by Erin McGrath Rieke
ABOUT
In this self-portrait, I’ve used black acrylic on upcycled art paper to express something deeply personal—my ongoing search for self-awareness. It’s part of my Turbulence Behind Tranquility series, where I confront the emotional undercurrents that often lie hidden beneath the surface of my everyday life.
As I painted, I could feel the contrast between the bold, almost aggressive strokes and the stillness I long for within myself. The black acrylic felt heavy and deliberate, like the weight of unresolved emotions or the moments where I wrestle with my own thoughts. The upcycled paper wasn’t just a surface; it carried its own history, full of imperfections and scars, much like my own experiences. It reminded me of how I’m constantly trying to reshape and repurpose parts of myself, finding new meaning in things I once discarded or overlooked.
This process of painting was cathartic—each stroke felt like a release, a way of externalizing the turbulence I often keep inside. The portrait is less about how I look and more about who I am in those moments of internal conflict. It’s raw and unfinished, just like the journey of self-awareness itself. Painting this allowed me to see the layers within me more clearly, even if it’s not always easy or pretty.
artist: Erin McGrath Rieke
created: 2018
series: Reflections, Turbulence Behind Tranquility
subject: abstract
styles: abstract
mediums: acrylic
DETAILS
artwork: acrylic on paper
original: one-of-a-kind artwork
size: 11 w x 14 h x 1.5 d in
PICK UP, SHIPPING, RETURNS
shipping: all shipments for JUST E PRODUCTIONS are brought to UPS each Friday by 12 pm CST. While each shipment time varies, domestic shipments for the continental US usually take 5-7 days.
pick up: local clients and collectors that elect to pick up works from just e collections will be contacted directly via email to make arrangements.
returns: details on returns can be found here.
ABOUT
In this self-portrait, I’ve used black acrylic on upcycled art paper to express something deeply personal—my ongoing search for self-awareness. It’s part of my Turbulence Behind Tranquility series, where I confront the emotional undercurrents that often lie hidden beneath the surface of my everyday life.
As I painted, I could feel the contrast between the bold, almost aggressive strokes and the stillness I long for within myself. The black acrylic felt heavy and deliberate, like the weight of unresolved emotions or the moments where I wrestle with my own thoughts. The upcycled paper wasn’t just a surface; it carried its own history, full of imperfections and scars, much like my own experiences. It reminded me of how I’m constantly trying to reshape and repurpose parts of myself, finding new meaning in things I once discarded or overlooked.
This process of painting was cathartic—each stroke felt like a release, a way of externalizing the turbulence I often keep inside. The portrait is less about how I look and more about who I am in those moments of internal conflict. It’s raw and unfinished, just like the journey of self-awareness itself. Painting this allowed me to see the layers within me more clearly, even if it’s not always easy or pretty.
artist: Erin McGrath Rieke
created: 2018
series: Reflections, Turbulence Behind Tranquility
subject: abstract
styles: abstract
mediums: acrylic
DETAILS
artwork: acrylic on paper
original: one-of-a-kind artwork
size: 11 w x 14 h x 1.5 d in
PICK UP, SHIPPING, RETURNS
shipping: all shipments for JUST E PRODUCTIONS are brought to UPS each Friday by 12 pm CST. While each shipment time varies, domestic shipments for the continental US usually take 5-7 days.
pick up: local clients and collectors that elect to pick up works from just e collections will be contacted directly via email to make arrangements.
returns: details on returns can be found here.
ABOUT
In this self-portrait, I’ve used black acrylic on upcycled art paper to express something deeply personal—my ongoing search for self-awareness. It’s part of my Turbulence Behind Tranquility series, where I confront the emotional undercurrents that often lie hidden beneath the surface of my everyday life.
As I painted, I could feel the contrast between the bold, almost aggressive strokes and the stillness I long for within myself. The black acrylic felt heavy and deliberate, like the weight of unresolved emotions or the moments where I wrestle with my own thoughts. The upcycled paper wasn’t just a surface; it carried its own history, full of imperfections and scars, much like my own experiences. It reminded me of how I’m constantly trying to reshape and repurpose parts of myself, finding new meaning in things I once discarded or overlooked.
This process of painting was cathartic—each stroke felt like a release, a way of externalizing the turbulence I often keep inside. The portrait is less about how I look and more about who I am in those moments of internal conflict. It’s raw and unfinished, just like the journey of self-awareness itself. Painting this allowed me to see the layers within me more clearly, even if it’s not always easy or pretty.
artist: Erin McGrath Rieke
created: 2018
series: Reflections, Turbulence Behind Tranquility
subject: abstract
styles: abstract
mediums: acrylic
DETAILS
artwork: acrylic on paper
original: one-of-a-kind artwork
size: 11 w x 14 h x 1.5 d in
PICK UP, SHIPPING, RETURNS
shipping: all shipments for JUST E PRODUCTIONS are brought to UPS each Friday by 12 pm CST. While each shipment time varies, domestic shipments for the continental US usually take 5-7 days.
pick up: local clients and collectors that elect to pick up works from just e collections will be contacted directly via email to make arrangements.
returns: details on returns can be found here.
