Last night as I was trying to go to sleep, my ADD brain does it’s usual Ted Talk session where it just rambles on and on about random things other than actually sleeping. One of the narratives that popped up was breaking down how my artwork overall fits into specific sections depending on what the medium is. I’m hoping to get my shit together to fix up my site to properly reflect this, but that first required me to know WHAT I want it to look like first! Minions!! I need frakking minions dammit!! Or maybe just a fraction of Dr Strange’s ability to astral-project so that I can DO ALL THE THINGS that I want to do at once! So as I put that assignment on my never ending To Do List, my brain said that I needed reflect on my work. While listening to the soothing sounds of the Derpacabra snoring into my armpit, I mentally put my work into a kind of Mind Gallery and stood back. Here’s how the exhibition ended up working out:
Paintings- My paintings are broken into two different types: the Personal and the Political. When it comes to the Personal, the imagery is designed to covey specific feeling(s) via visual representations. How can one explain how a panic attack feels with out using words? How does one communicate without words what one’s own self confidence is feeling like? How do you convey the feeling of internal rage at the moment it breaks within you? These pieces are how I communicate the difficult emotions that I struggle to express in words but find immensely easier via imagery. I’ve always found that images are easier to explain how or what I’m feeling. We don’t all speak the same way regardless of language, but much like how the pen can be mightier than the sword, a paintbrush can go even further. The Political pieces are more blunt in their expression. I don’t see the point in burying my opinion under 4oo pounds of pretentious bullshit. I actually find that practice to be one of the biggest factors in why art over all has become something the public snubs. Viewers only take in a piece statistically around 3-5 seconds, so unless the piece IMMEDIATELY grabs their attention, they’re going to move on without any further investigation. My political leanings are progressive and deeply feminist, and I tap into my pop culture influences to speak on those messages. I am a Gen Xer, raised by TV, video games, music videos, and the overall deconstruction of the propaganda from my Baby Boomer parents’ heydays. My political images are created with a sense of defiant sarcasm, much like Carrie Fisher giving you the middle finger while grinning sweetly.
Collage- Both paper and digital collages are me creating my own world of nonsense in response to a world focused on putting every little thing in its place, even if its against its own will. I’ve never really fit in most social settings, and it has taken decades to accept this uniqueness as being okay to be. My fasciation with randomness, with the “abnormal”, and anything that triggers my mother to frustratingly say, “why”, has always been something that brought a smile to my face. I see the world through collage, piecing things together that may not go but look so interesting when put they’re next to each other. Puzzles that aren’t really puzzles just waiting to be united. There’s no rules and no wrong answers, all that matters is that spiritual click that happens when a piece says its done.
Illustrations- Being that I’m a complete lunatic, I’m always having random images pop up in my head. Seriously, my brain is one giant room of TVs all running different shows, from every single channel or streaming service in existence all playing at once. Occasionally, an image will emerge out of the noise like one of those annoying pop-up ads on an internet site. These are just examples of how intensely random my interests, humor, and obsessions are. These are how I express my personality in the Visual. My geekiness, dark sense of humor, silliness, and my sense of joy wherever it is found. Dealing with chronic depression, these are the tools that I use to fight back against the mental demons I do battle with. For example, Little Miss Strange is my way of healing the broken pieces from my childhood. She’s one of my “characters” that embodies an assortment of my own persona, but with an access to cartoonish weaponry and a collection of adorable creatures. Influenced by cartoons, comic books, and creatures from the minds of Brian Froud and Jim Henson, my illustrations are love letters to all of those inspirations.
Photography- I don’t really do much of this anymore mostly because I haven’t had the chance to upgrade my camera. However, my desire to capture the beauty in the oddity of everyday life and in nature is still prevalent. Once the ability to visit the flea markets again will mean my fasciation with creepy dolls heads, weird objects, and just the strange out in the world will again be captured. I enjoy highlighting the ways the mundane can be frightening. I love how beautiful the natural decay of things once loved and cherished occurs.
Maybe one day I’ll be able to have a space to put all these things together properly. Besides my own head and walls of my house. One day…….