Charcoal Empowerment Portraits by Amy-Lynn Denham

I created this series as began a journey to love myself properly.

I'd talked about body positivity and loving yourself a lot in other career but hadn't ever really felt love for the person I am - inside or out.

The "Pieces of Me" collection strays from my usual adventures in acrylic paint and bright colours. The hands-on approach of charcoal, blackening my fingertips as I feel the roughness of the toothed paper beneath my hands has brought me closer to myself and my subject.

I've expanded this project to includes models willing to show themselves and their bodies not only in flattering ways but also at those angles we try to hide from ourselves in the mirror and from others in pictures.

To truly love oneself is beyond words. And for many, beyond experience.

I hope this series inspires others to truly love and accept the one body they get to carry them through this life.