Ugly Frog

Acrylic on wrapped canvas.

24x36x1.50"

Ugly Frog tells the story of a woman who feels ashamed of her appearance and tries to hide from view. Her face is covered; only her fingers can be seen. The title carries a painful judgment she has made about herself, while the vivid, restless colours around her suggest the intensity of those feelings. The painting asks us to look beyond what she believes she sees in herself and consider the vulnerability beneath that belief.

I built the image with layered bands of orange, gold, green, and red, then added flowing, repeated lines that create movement across the surface. Within this energetic setting, I formed the woman’s lowered, concealed face and made her pale fingers the most visible detail. The contrast draws attention to the gesture of hiding and gives the painting its emotional focus.