Artist Statement

I originally started making art as a way for me to escape difficult things going on in my life. Anytime I was upset, angry, lonely, I would draw or paint to get past whatever was bothering me. Eventually I got more passionate about art and it grew to be a major part of my life. Although I still use art as an emotional outlet at times, I also now use it to express my creativity. In addition to being a creative person, I really love the satisfaction of being able to make something with my hands in a very technology and machine-driven world.

Besides making art, I also like to look at a lot of art. Looking at other people’s art and images gives me inspiration and sparks ideas for my own artwork. I often will see another artist use a certain material or technique and it inspires me to try new things. I don’t like to restrict myself to a certain medium, technique, or style; I’m always searching for something different. A lot of the time I also just get really interested in a certain thing or feel the urge to make something specific. Sometimes the urge can just be a specific color or subject. Once I make the art and get the urge out of my system I may move onto something completely different.

Although I like to try different things my best work and the work I make most often consists of realistic styled drawings, paintings, and portraiture. The work I’m currently making for my tutorials class has been mostly portraiture so far. I’ve also been trying to incorporate my latest “urge” or “interest” which is natural light and shadow and the way they fall on people or objects. I love the way light and shadows curve and bend over the body and the colors they bring out in the skin. I also really love the way light reflects and shines off of water and objects such as glass or metal and natural objects like flowers. So far, I haven’t included these objects in my paintings for tutorials 1 but I plan on trying to incorporate them as I continue to work.

When I first started making realistic styled pieces and portraiture I started with pencil/graphite. After really gaining control of working with pencil I slowly started branching off into different materials such as charcoal, colored pencil, acrylic paint, watercolor, and oil. I think it was important for me to start with pencil and slowly learn to use other materials in order to get to where I am with oil paints. I always try to make every new work better than the one before it and I feel like I’ve been consistent with making that happen over the years.