Erin Monahan

The Artist

As an artist, I aim to not only process and express my own emotions, but to make other feel heard. I create my pieces with imagery that many can take in and see the emotions I have laid down to form their own meaning within, even if it is not exactly what I made the piece to portray. The viewer does not have to go through my exact experiences to understand how I feel, which is why I find representative imagery much more enjoyable than depicting the exact events of my life. This leads me to leaning towards an impressionistic and vibrant style that includes a variety of subject matter. This process also helps me to process my own thoughts and emotions, as finding representative imagery requires me to relfect on and fully understand my actions and mental processes.

Artwork

The Brothers Entwined

Acrylic Paint on Canvas, 24"x24"
Personification of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Each snake representing a different aspect of my disorder, Panic/Aggression, Defensiveness, and Alertness. Reflecting deceptive symbolism of snakes, showing the distortion the disorder causes to my mind.

Inspired by Biblical imagery.

Aurora

Linoleum Block Prints on Paper, 12"x9"
Aurora Borealis resembling the cerebrum, representing learning to appreciate my unique mind. Looking at it with appreciation instead of hatred.

Laid to Rest

Watercolor on Paper, 16"x11"
Refusing to let the burdens of others control me any longer. Never forgiving or forgetting, but letting the giants that once plauged my mind be covered by newfound wisdom and peace

Inspired by vintage storybooks.

A Woman Scorned

Charcoal and Watercolor on Wood, 11"x14"
A nun, a symbol of purity and devotion, turning to see the divinity of rage, refusing to accept abuse and staying true to her emotions. Not cowering from authority.

Scouring Tounge

Acrylic Paint on Cardboard, 12"x9"
A piece made to process grief.

Tieing the feeling of greif to the sensation of loosing a tooth. Your tounge contanstly searching, darting aroud to try and find the familiar feeling, only to be left with a hole you find impossible to ignore.

Canary in a Coal Mine

Oil Pastel on Cardboard, 12"x14"
Having my kidness being taken advantage of, being used and thrown away, left to die like a canary in a carbon monoxide-filled coal mine.

Based off of canaries used as carbon monoxide detectors in the 1900s.

Shiny Stones and Wilted Petals

Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Paper, 11"x16"
Rejecting a traditional life and marriage, fearing the expectations of onlookers and cycles of abuse present within the "norm."

Culmination

Acrylic Paint and Collage on Cardboard, 18"x20"
A collage of all pieces from my 2022-2023 AP Drawing portfolio collaged onto a self portrait.

Depicts my self growth, learning from my expierences and showing how these times of sadness and joy have formed my character, no matter how big or small, no matter how long ago they occured, each memory formed a piece of me.

Inspired by the renaissance period of art

The Fool in Her Home

Acrylic Paint on Canvas, 11"x14"
Being stunted like a statue by the narcisism and greed of others. Left clinging to the idea of affection and care, being lost in a dark void of other's apathy with no way out.

Inspired by Greek myth of King Midas, turning anything he touched to gold with his greed.

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