I don't paint or draw for anyone but myself. My painting, drawing, and digital work are therapy for me. I haven't had any formal art training other than the training I had in high school and one college art class. My work often pulls from impressionist, expressionist, abstract, cubist, and surrealist movements. Much of my work is representational in nature, but some of my work pulls directly from real life. It tends to be bright and colorful. I usually choose to use bold colors and large strokes or marks, which create a sense of movement. I tend to use, acrylic, chalk, pencil and oil pastel, for most of my work, but I also work with watercolors, ink, and markers. I don't often follow conventional modes of painting and drawing. It is important to me that my pieces bring out feeling; I really don't care if they represent a recognizable, tangible form in our realm. I really don't care if the shadowing is right of if they at all seem real. Art is about exploring yourself and showing others how you perceive the world. It is about inviting other people into parts of your mind and emotion, that normally can't be seen.
I recommend that everyone pursue some kind of art or craft. The art or craft form you choose can take many shapes and pull from many sources or disciplines, but the most important thing is that it should make you happy and be a mode of expression that you feel comfortable with, and that you feel passionate about. Any kind of art can help center you, help you deal with things you don't want to, and get you to think outside of your box. You don't need any talent or training to start; you build that on the way. It's a journey and you are the explorer. You may never become a fine artist or skilled artisan, but that really isn't the point is it? Well, it's not in my book. The following are some of my favorite pieces that I wanted to share with you.
