I Am Pleasant and Upbeat, Can’t You See?
From the collection The Beautiful Mess
 
Oh girl, we all know that one—smiling so hard it hurts, shining so bright it blinds, but underneath? A whole lot of ugh and exhaustion bubbling up. I Am Pleasant and Upbeat, Can’t You See? dives into that exhausting act of forced cheerfulness—the kind that wraps you up in bright white light but snakes through tangled vines of green and blue, revealing the pushiness and strain behind the grin.
This painting calls out the toll of being too sunny, too chipper, too “everything’s fine” when really, it’s not. That performative joy? It can breed resentment, internal battles, and the sneaky imposter syndrome that whispers you’re just faking it.
If you’ve ever felt worn out from being the “happy one,” this piece sees you—and calls BS on the act.
 
Inspiration: Forced cheer, optimism on repeat, sunny facades, and the burnout behind the smile.
Original size: 36” x 24” (oil on canvas)