Artist Statement

I’ve always been weird to my peers. In childhood it seemed a curse, that I was a lone island in a sea of strangers. But as I entered into adulthood, I learned I was neurodivergent, a much nicer way of saying I have a mental health diagnosis. As a young artist, I created to express myself when words failed. I felt less alone when someone related to my art. Now that I’m an adult, I create because others should know they are not alone.

My primary medium for many years has been digital. It lends itself very well to illustration and storytelling. I create my webcomic in Clip Studio. While I have a very small following, I find solace in telling the story of overcoming guilt and self-loathing. I also work in oils. The thickness of the paint, the mixing of colors, and variety of techniques is quite satisfying. I also dabble in photography and variety of other traditional mediums.

Art is a way to connect beyond the constraints of time or language. The very essence that exists within us, which makes us human, is mixed in as much as linseed oil or Arabic gum. In my life I have experienced the pain of loneliness and alienating feeling that I am alone in what and how I feel. If one person sees my art and knows their experience is not singular, their feelings are valid, that there is hope and they are worthy of love, then I have truly achieved something. I focus on my experiences with mental health including feelings of guilt, worthlessness, alienation and inversely, learning self-love and compassion. I have also started a series exploring my feelings towards Christianity and the hatred that steams from the Christian Nationalist movement.

Having studied music and music history, transitioning to art history has been an exciting journey. I have always admired John Singer Sargent and his portraiture for the ability to capture the essence of a person and leave the rest of the painting only suggesting other elements. I enjoy learning about religious iconography and the use of symbols in art.