Why I Make Art

My job as an artist is to make imagination a reality. To bring into fruition what is otherwise intangible. With this skill, I can teach lessons, share stories, and communicate experiences.

    Art began as an escape for me. As a child, intense social anxiety propelled me toward art; it was something that I could control in a vast and unpredictable world. Now, I try to see that same world as a wonderful and colorful place. Art has become a lens through which I view everything. I strive to share this joy and creativity with my students, encouraging them to explore their ideas and visions through color and shape. My art is important because it can act as an inspiration to them. It shows them what is possible through art and how that art can be used.

    I tend to be drawn to whimsical characters, settings, creatures, and colors in my personal works. Perhaps this comes from my love of animated movies and children’s books, both of which have heavily influenced my artistic journey thus far. Much of my work carries themes of fantasy, fun, and community. I feel that art has the incredible power of allowing us to see the world both as it is and as it could be. It can act as a call to make the world a better place.

 Art is also a tool with which I communicate when words fail. It allows me to express myself when doing so is daunting. By teaching artistic skills to students, I hope to encourage them to speak up through their artworks when they cannot find the right words to say. Art teaches us to express ourselves, imagine new and wonderful things, and carefully observe the world around us. I want my students to learn to see the world as it is so they can imagine it as it could be. We will explore this in our art; we will make pieces about how the world can be, using art to strive toward positive change.

When I am creating art, I always look at my surroundings for inspiration. While I create unrealistic, whimsical pieces, basing them in reality makes them feel tangible. I reflect my desires and ideals in my works; they are the culmination of my goals, hopes, and current circumstances.