Through painting portraits in oil on wood panel, I explore whether our histories, cultures or physical bodies define our place in the world. If it is habitual or instinctual to anchor ourselves to our people, places ideas and objects and whether that should be deemed as good or bad. In these paintings I work out the complexities of the idea of community. Illuminating contrasting concepts - such as the conscious vs the subliminal, multiple personalities versus one dimensionality, self determination versus mind control. I show this by using feelings of isolation and emptiness juuxtaposed with feelings of fullness and possibility. this potentiality allows for the viewer to question their current beliefs, whether they are seemingly rigid or fragile.