Daily Artsy Figurative Paintings

Facades. Sean Mahan.

I’ve been called intense several times in my life and each time I take it as a compliment.  I’m not unfriendly, but I’m also not super outgoing and smiley, which often leads to well meaning strangers telling me to smile.  I am afraid, though, that sometimes my serious demeanor may make me seem less approachable or happy than I am.  When going through the website of a fellow Florida artist I’ve admired for a long time, Sean Mahan, I was struck by how much his slightly sad-seeming figures reminded me of my own misunderstood facade.

Sean Mahan | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings Sean Mahan | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings Sean Mahan | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings Sean Mahan | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings Sean Mahan | artsy forager #art #artists #paintings

 

This pattern of assumption and misapprehension goes both ways, too.  Sometimes the people who seem the happiest and most jovial are deep down incredibly sad.  We put on a display for other people.. it’s what is expected, what makes them comfortable, no matter whether or not it is true to what we feel inside.  It’s taken me a long time to be content with my own temperament, to be OK with being the quiet observer instead of the life of the party.  But it is who I am and I’m cool with that.  Just don’t tell me to smile.

To see more of Sean Mahan‘s work, please visit his website.

All images are via the artist’s website.

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  • Carlynne Hershberger
    March 1, 2015 at 1:41 PM

    Interesting paintings and I can relate. I’ve been told many times to smile- it’s annoying! I’m perfectly happy, just not outwardly bubbly. I joke about having “bitchy resting face” syndrome. LOL