Where it All Began

Art has always been a part of my life since I was a young child. When I was 5 to 6 years old, I remember my mother would have different activities lined out for me and my siblings every day. I had a low interest in card and board games. I hurried to play my turn and rushed my siblings to play their turn, so we could move on to the next activity which was art and crafts. 

Those were the moments in my early childhood when I realized that art was my safe place. Outside of all the activities that I was scheduled to complete. I would enjoy going into my room to color and draw pictures. Even at that age, I knew the power that creating art had even if I did not notice at the time. I could block everything else out that was going on around me and pour my little heart into drawings. The process that it took to complete my stick figure drawings, clouds, trees, and houses has always taught me to have patience. I was always focused on how the finishing look would come out and what the objects meant to me in every drawing/ coloring. 

I knew and realized the moment I completed my art what the next steps would be. Keep in mind I drew so hard with my marker that it would bleed through three pages of paper. Before the paper could even dry, I would rip it out of my notebook and run to my mother to show her the completed coloring/drawing. The gratification and love that my mom always showed me enlightened my heart. She would always give me productive criticism of my art, which at that age I didn’t see as productive or positive. Even though it was just simply “don't press too hard when you are drawing or stay in the lines” I still gave a side eye to those types of comments, but even then, I would rush back upstairs to my room to try to take her comments and improve for the next drawing. 

Art has been a major part of my life whether I notice it or not. It wasn’t until I started doing my art classes in elementary school, that I realized I loved doing art and would like to get better at it. In third grade, my art teacher had an art contest. The art contest was based on your perspective view of the selected items the teacher had on a table in the middle of the room that the student's desks surrounded, forming a circle. We were to use all the different types of shading methods that the teacher taught us. My favorite was stippling, because of the small tapping noise it would create whenever someone in the room was using that method. We also had to use the chiaroscuro technique, she lowered the lights in the room so it would help with noticing shadows and the lighting on the objects, depending on your perspective on the objects. 

I entered my piece into the contest and shockingly won the blue ribbon first place. My drawing was featured in the main entrance of the school with my blue shiny ribbon alongside, second and third-place winners. I was extremely happy about the accomplishment, so happy that moving forward I wanted to continue to create art. I remember when I was asked what I wanted for my birthday or Christmas it was always something along the lines of markers, coloring pencils, sketch pads, or stencils. I requested art supplies so much that my mother finally at no request bought me my first art kit. I remember my eyes watering up with excitement that my mom randomly surprised me with something I love.  

I made drawings and sketches up until I was ready to use washable water paint, sadly with the type of town we lived in there were no resources to support up-and-coming artists. So, my love for art was put on the back burner. 

Once I was older, I remember how drawing and sketching were my safe place. I was having a moment of struggle in my life. Everything was clouding my mind, I couldn’t focus, and I was very overwhelmed. So, I began drawing and that made me feel better and got me out of my low vibrational moods. I decided I would start art again. I first started off mimicking other artists' work trying to see what fit with me the most. I found out I love acrylic paint the most.  

So, I watch more and more videos on how to use acrylic paint. Until I start selling my artwork. At the time of me selling my artwork, I still didn't see the value in my paintings, but when people would see them and give me their comments on what they thought the paintings meant, I felt connected to them even more. 

I was attending the YWCA Strive Program in 2019 and was asked what I would like to be doing five years from now. I was extremely puzzled because at the time my life was a wreck, and I didn't have a clue where I would be in five years back then. I thought long and hard. My dream was to have my artwork featured in an art gallery, and open/ start my own art gallery where local artists could come and showcase their artwork. My gallery would also have basic and advanced art classes for all ages. 

When I became a part of Labyrinth Made Goods, I met David and Jim, with Wisecracker Studios, and I was able to share my passion for art with them. They were the first to ever buy a painting and told me I needed to start thinking and working on pricing my artwork because this would not be the only piece that I sell. At the time I didn't believe them but surely it was true. Before you know it, years later I received the opportunity from David and Jim to be one of the artists in their upcoming art show which is The West of Center Exhibit in the Armstrong Gallery in Mclean County Art Center, the gallery is up until Aug 22, 2024. 

Creating the art was a task at hand, deciding what type of art I would create. Through the years of struggle in my life, I learned to put my emotion in my art, well that's how it always turned out. I was honored to have an art sculpture created by David Dow, that was inspired by me and my story. I loved it. Just by looking at it, I came to tears. From that moment on I knew I wanted my pieces to tell a story. 

My artwork at the MCAC was powerful to me. The painting is called Imperfect Grace: Love Me Naked (Do not judge people off first glance, because if I was to present myself completely vulnerable: naked, what would you have to judge if I am laying everything out for you to see), The Fading Amber of Passion (You will and can burn outputting energy and love into the thing you’re passionate about. You need healthy habits and boundaries, inspired by Kvvlv Kvv, Kayla Kay), My triptych is called  Echoes of Chains and the Invisible Shackles ( Look at older day slavery vs today's living, at this moment we are still living in a type of slavery, modern-day slavery. We as people let society dictate our lives by telling us how we are supposed to live and work our lives away by working a 9 to 5 shift. Women are only on the earth to bare children; we are supposed to look a specific way or be shaped a specific way to be considered beautiful. Natural beauty is looked down on and the majority of women who get surgery do it, not because of health reasons, but because of what someone else said about their looks which made them uncomfortable). 

Making this art was a long process because I was a little nervous about my artwork not making it through the submission process. I didn’t know whether to do something without a message or change the paintings because of the possible conversation it may bring up. In the end, I chose to stick with my original thought, and it was nice to see that everyone who had a chance to hear me talk about my painting saw my vision and understood. Also, some came up with their own depiction of what they saw when looking at them, which was lovely to hear. 

It was truly a blessing from the most high, to have this opportunity to have my artwork accepted into an Art Gallery for the first time. It gave me the courage to continue to do what makes me happy, which is to do art and continue to fight to make my dreams come true. I’m looking forward to taking steps towards my next art goal. Knowing that I have David and Jim as major supporters of LMG, and friends will always be the push I need in life. I had an honorary day, sponsored and hosted by the Soroptimist Women “Dream and Reach It”. I’m glad to say they will always be a part of my life. Knowing my family supports me in every positive thing I do in life motivates me also. 

I’m looking forward to completing the next goals/ dreams in my life, knowing that the best things come with time and perseverance after the work I did for the pieces for the art show. 

Tips: 

1. Always fight for what you believe in. 

1. Don’t give up, continue to dust yourself off and push for the completion of your dream and goals. 

1. Always appreciate and show gratitude to your supporters and loved ones. 

1. Put the most high first in everything you do, and you will continue to be blessed