LeeAnne Padilla
Don’t Forget to Floss!, 2026
Mixed media on canvas
16 x 23 inches
Artist Statement:
Like much of my artwork, this piece reflects my personal experiences with mental health disorders and the ways they impact my everyday life. This painting in particular, explores the challenges of maintaining daily hygiene and self-care as a neurodivergent person.
I often find that seemingly simple routines and responsibilities can become overwhelming and, at times, debilitating. In search of relief, I often turn to self-medicating behaviors, such as spending nights out with friends, substance use, or making art as a means of temporarily escaping the demands of daily responsibilities and personal upkeep. This work examines the ongoing tension between my desire to be a responsible, functional adult and my tendency to fall back into familiar patterns of neglect and escapism.
Art-making occupies a complex space within this cycle, serving as a form of avoidance, while also providing a sense of focus and relief during times of stress. Through the meticulous process of painting realistic details, particularly within figure and portraiture work, I often enter a flow state that allows me to momentarily disconnect from these struggles and become fully immersed in the act of creation.
