Artist Statement

               I believe art acts as a connection and disconnection to world around us. It can be used to identify with the world we live in and the people we interact with, but it can also open or expand our minds and transport us to other worlds. Art allows us to view the world from different points of views and allows us the opportunity to express ourselves, our values, and our beliefs. Art for me is a way of communication and a route for escape.

            I have been influenced and inspired by many different kinds of artists. My favorite Photographers include Dorothea Lange, Richard Avedon, and Linda McCartney. I love how Dorothea Lange and Linda McCartney capture life in its most natural and intimate moments. Although Richard Avedon is mostly known for his fashion photography, I really appreciate his candid and portrait photography the most and how he is able to capture the character of each individual. These photographers inspired me to have my art reflect life. Other artists whose work I look at would be Vangoh, Monet, Berthe Morisot, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Leonid Afremov. All of these artists use lots of color and expressiveness in their paintings. My favorite out of all of them would probably be Leonid Afremov. His paintings are done only with a palette knife and oil paint and the colors and techniques he uses are absolutely beautiful. I have also been influenced a lot by music. I love the music of the 1960’s and the free and open minded ideologies it expressed. The most influential musicians from that time for me would be The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix to name a few. I feel like these musicians were very experimental and creative during the height of their careers and their music really influenced my beliefs and need to create and express myself.

            In the future I would like to continue drawing, painting, pottery, sculpture, photography, music, and anything new that I may come across as a creative outlet. I hope to keep studying art in the future and definitely have a career in art. Whether it is a career in Art Education Photography or any other art based career, I will continue making art.