PicsArt Monthly January 2014 Issue | Page 69

FEATURE: Photo A Sea of Feelings: Gizem Karayavuz’s Self-Portrait The photo of the month is this piece titled “Self Portrait” by Gizem Karayavuz (@gizemkarayavuz). Gizem is a very creative artist who knows how to put PicsArt’s editing tools at the service of her imagination. Here she has submerged herself in a churning sea of water, skillfully weaving images, subjects, textures, and soft lighting to create a pale, glowing, and surreal piece of self portraiture. She tagged her image with a quote from author Diane Hardy, “We all have a sea inside us; Can you hear it? Can you hear the ocean roaring?” Following the quote, Gizem explained that 2013 was a hard year, but that she sustained herself through her artwork, and the support of others from the PicsArt community. Gizem's fragments of self-expression put together with this image resulted in a complex and powerful self-portrait, putting on display where she is and how she feels. Struggling under water, but finding meaning through creation and beauty: this is our Photo of the Month. PicsArt Monthly | 69