My goal with my work is to create something that reflects others, I want people to feel something resonating from the painting that connects to their soul, to give them an experience that heals something inside of them. I want my art to help open and enrich other's hearts. I wanted to create a line of wearable art to bring my artwork to everyday life.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
Born and raised in Florida, my passion for painting was discovered when I was 4 years old. Since then, I’ve always been really pulled towards the sea. For my college years, I studied art in Philadelphia, at both the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania. My days were spent over books in the library and sleepless nights were spent creating paintings in the studio.
One year after graduating, I opened up my first Studio Gallery in Old City, Philadelphia on Gallery Row. It was an incredible time of my life and such a successful 4-year experience. Philadelphia had inspired my art by strengthening my identity and connection to the ocean as my home.
In 2018, I opened up my new Art Studio Gallery in the beautiful city of Laguna Beach, California. It was a dream come true to live and paint in Laguna Beach ever since I was a child! Now that I have closed my second gallery due to a pending move, I still paint in my private studio in Laguna Beach. I can't wait for the next adventure!
2. When did you realise your passion for art?
I have been painting for as long as I can even remember. Like every child, I loved drawing and painting and doodling any chance I had any surfaces and colors around me. I think that as I grew older, that I just never stopped. I truly believe Pablo Picasso's words, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."
I am very fortunate that my family was always supportive of my passion since I was 4 years old. It was actually my preschool teacher who first recognized my passion, and entered me into a national contest where I won my very first art award and was interviewed on national TV as a 4 year old.
It is amazing how much that early of an event shaped my whole life, and I couldn't be more grateful how supportive my family and friends have always been towards this life long passion of mine.
3. How did you come up with your own unique art style?
I really value taking a unique approach to the process of creating my paintings and the materials I use. I incorporate different types of paints to create effects that each media type is best at. I paint primarily on smooth, reflective, translucent surfaces such as plexiglass and acetate.
I paint on both the front and the backside to create depth. It feels like a sculptural approach to painting. I also use iridescent shells in my paintings to show my love for the ocean and all of its beautiful treasures.
4. Please enlighten our readers about the concept of wearable art.
My artwork is an extension of my heart. I see the world in a unique way, I've always known I was wired differently with how deeply I feel emotions not just in myself but empathically in others around me. My paintings help me to express nuances in the world that I found there are no words for. I pour different energies, emotions, and narratives into each piece, making each one serve a unique purpose.
My goal with my work is to create something that reflects others, I want people to feel something resonating from the painting that connects to their soul, to give them an experience that heals something inside of them. I want my art to help open and enrich other's hearts. I wanted to create a line of wearable art to bring my artwork to everyday life.
6. Most of your paintings have various shades of blue. Why is it so?
As many have done in mythology, I relate the beauty and energy of water to feminine power. Water has long been equated with the feminine aspects of creation, nature and spirituality. I see the ocean as life giving, fertile, powerful, sensual, changing and mysterious. In my art, my brush strokes mimic expressions of water. My paints create currents, splashes and fluidity.
I am inspired by water's glimmering interaction with light. I discovered a unique technique to imitate the effects of water's refractive nature: using rare precious materials such as genuine metallic seashells, dichroics, 24k gold, silver, and using layers of translucent, reflective plexiglass. The harmony of these elements combined with the dichotomy of my muses' power and softness reflects my interpretation of the sea in relation to femininity.
7. Which painter's artwork do you admire the most and which piece is your favorite?
Malcolm Liepke, Charmaine Olivia, and Jeremy Mann are my current three favorite artists. I adore their economic brush strokes in figurative paintings. The brushwork in their women are so bold, sensual, and powerful. I love the energy you feel from their strokes. I love loosely painted artwork with bold brush strokes the most. When I go to museums, I usually find myself admiring the impressionist era the most.
8. What would you advise to upcoming artists ?
The best advice I can give you is to be steadfast in your passion for art and do not be afraid to try new things to find your personal style. Studying the basic art techniques in either classes or even by teaching yourself with books or in Youtube videos is very important in getting a good technical foundation. As Picasso said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
After I had many years of training and building my technical craft, my style evolved the most when I did not have all the influences from college art professors or peer critiques anymore. I have a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania as well as Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In college, one is taught a magnitude of art, colors, techniques, and style.
After I had many years of training and building my technical craft, my style evolved the most when I did not have all the influences from college art professors or peer critiques anymore. I have a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania as well as Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In college, one is taught a magnitude of art, colors, techniques, and style.
However, nothing much on running a business! I don’t know if any art schools teach the business side of things since “Commercialism” is very frowned upon in art academia. However, having artwork that is “commercial” just means that it is relatable with more people and salable! It isn’t something to run from like I thought in art school.
That being said, just paint whatever is in your heart, and there will always be an audience out there. How do you find out what your voice is? What is it that you draw/doodle/paint/create when you are procrastinating?
What do you find that you naturally do when you create for nobody except your own happiness? Chances are if it is something that truly makes you happy, it Shows, and I guarantee, there is an audience out there that is looking for exactly what shines from your heart.
Interviewed By - Aliza Hussain
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