It’s not for you, Red Lipstick edition, oil paint, 22”x 28”

Red lipstick... an accessory that activates the Gaze by using intense color to draw and hold attention. It is a powerful choice of glamour that supports personal confidence, regardless of external validation.

This oil paint-focused mixed-media artwork is part of the series It's Not For You. My work explores themes of the female form and the "expectations and power" that come with it. Specifically, accessories, actions, and stylistic choices that make women feel confident and beautiful, which initiate a sense of power and command, while from the viewpoint of the gaze, these accessories are worn purely to attract rather than for oneself.

My first step began with sketching my subject and composition. For this painting, I am using a photograph from my collection, Kisses.

(November 10th, 2025)

Here is the first oil paint update! This is only the first layer of the nose, which is why it lacks depth.

(November 10th, 2025)

Update!

(November 11th, 2025)

To involve visual interest, I am applying molding paste to the sides of the canvas and around the edges of the front. The concept is to use the applied texture to make a background that appears to be lipstick swatches. I will match the model's lipstick shade as the background to strengthen this concept.

(November 14th, 2025)