FRANCES CANNON

Melbourne artist, feminist and Self Love Club creator who looks at ideas of body love and body loathing, anxiety, relationships, sex and sexuality

I ADMIRE STRONG, INFLUENTIAL WOMEN.

Artists like Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois and Nancy Spero for fighting their way into a very male-driven art world and flourishing; women who are activists and speak truth like Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi and Patrisse Cullors, founders of the Black Lives Matter movement; and Maya Angelou, Laverne Cox, Clementine Ford, Roxane Gay – all women who use their artform and their platform to educate.

I FACE BULLYING FOR MY WEIGHT, ESPECIALLY ONLINE, AND MY ANXIETY CAN MAKE THIS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.

If I’m struggling, I have to learn to ask for help, whether that’s from a friend, a family member or a therapist. This is something we all need to learn: it’s okay to struggle and it’s okay to ask for help.

I USE MY ART TO DISCUSS DIFFICULT TOPICS THAT ARE PERSONAL TO ME (AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE).

Through drawing and painting, I discuss mental health, sex and sexuality, body positivity, menstruation, family and religion. I discuss these issues through a personal lens and I try to approach everything with honesty and tenderness.

I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT BEING OPEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING BOTH THE GOOD AND THE BAD.

I try to be as truthful and realistic as I can. My life isn’t perfect, so why should I pretend it is?

especially as a “fat I GET MY FAIR SHARE OF TROLLING, feminist” (the two most terrifying F-words in this patriarchal society). I don’t have time to deal with haters and trolls, so I block and delete.

AS I WORK FROM HOME, I HAVE TO REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF REST AND GETTING OUTSIDE.

Some days I forget to take a break, which isn’t good for my mental health, so I’m learning to remind myself of the importance of this.