I create Original and Custom Figurative portraits, drawn freehand with pencil (and sometimes mixed media) on wood. My series of works are based on my emotions, personal experiences and life around me, directly pulled from journal entries I've been filling up since childhood. Though I've always found a way to bring art into my jobs, it wasn't until I decided to move west in 2011 and take my art to a full time career. San Diego galleries like The Studio Door (Hillcrest) and Thumbprint Gallery (La Jolla) opened the door to exhibitions and drawing accolades that became the building blocks towards making my art career to what it is today. My art is currently represented on both coasts with Ali Jay Fine Art (CA) and Juniper Rag (MA).
As most creations happen, using raw wood as my canvas was a happy accident but one I continue to use. It serves as a mirror, reflecting my words, skin, durability, vulnerability and individuality. Keeping my tools and medium minimal provides me an environment conducive to creating such personal, intimate moments and poses. The nude figures, whether self portrait or other, represent the vulnerable process of letting go, in hopes to build self-love that may fuel confidence to openly connect, communicate, share and give.
Nurtured by creative influences and outlets, music and nature, ideas are never in shortage. Living West has also added a more (and much needed) natural and meditative influence to my already active lifestyle. In sharing my own personal experiences, whether through my fine art, publications or workshops, I hope to enhance enthusiasm towards creative outlets as ways of self-healing, sparking motivation, inspiration, communication...or just a place to start.
