Oftentimes, the symptoms of depression can manifest as aggression. We can lash out at the people closest to us, like an animal caught in a trap. Manic depicts my journey from a child to now, and the effects depression has had on my life. The first is a young child running through the woods in her favorite shoes, unaware of the danger in front of her. The second is a mad, sharp, blood-spattered descent. Blurred images of blades, like my scattered memories of my early adulthood. The third is a wounded man startled in the woods, gnawing off his own leg to get out of the trap he’s caught in. His eyes are wild, mouth bloodstained, nails sharp.

This project was experimental for me both in subject matter and medium. I used different sized plates, rotating them to create an entirely new image. I combined printing techniques like monoprinting and linocut with my usual drypoint on plexi. I took inspiration from Martin Lewis (most evident in the first piece) and Lee Bontecou (the second piece). I incorporated my history of fabric arts with the beading. This project really pushed me in ways I needed to be pushed in order to expand my craft, and was very therapeutic to make.