ARTIST STATEMENT
Austin Community College Portfolio
A psychological identity relates to individualism, self-respect and self-esteem. A creative identity is the outcome of bundling one’s thoughts to reach a result - a symbol of imagination and expressionism. Uncertainty, comparison, and pressure are just a few of the words that come to mind when I think about my identity as an artist. However, I have come to the realization that painting faces is the expression of who I really am.
Struggling with identity has inspired me to paint portraits and human forms displaying different facial expressions. I paint with the thought in my head, “What is this person’s story?” I keep my paintings colorful with a tone of creepiness that is sometimes found in their eyes. Surrealism is found in most of my paintings by my aggressive brushstrokes next to a very controlled area of color. I think of my paintings as different people in an alternative, fantasy life that I often compare myself to. Gustav Klimt is an inspiration for me because of his colors, texture and effective use of brushstrokes. My other inspiration is the Art Deco Fashion Era from the 1920s.
My paintings represent anyone that I could be, yet no one I actually am. I enjoy the use of acrylic paint because of the thick, chalk-like substance that leaves a solid color on the canvas. I also use oil paint so I can alter and blend the colors to emphasize more realistic traits, thus giving my paintings depth. On some paintings, I will use both acrylic and oil.
I have always had a special interest in the everyday lives of those around me. From the problems they face to the memories that are made, everyone has their own life to live and a story to tell. By finding my creative identity in painting people, I can portray the emotions that make us human.