What It Means to Be a Practicing Artist
What It Means to Be a Practicing Artist
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Reflection
My artistic practice is intertwined with my life, a continuous thread of an ever-evolving autobiography, from my earliest years to the present. My expression is a journey encompassing visual storytelling, artistic exploration, writing, and verbal presentation. The various disciplines and techniques in my work stem from exploration and play. When we were younger, art was a form of play. Now with work, that play should still be present as we grow into our professional selves. That joy we found when we were younger should still be a part of our everyday lives, including our careers. Play fosters new ideas to allow for growth and innovation, not only for the individual but for society as a whole. As human beings, we have the opportunity to create value for others. This is a responsibility I hold myself to. My life’s purpose is rooted in creating meaning across all facets of the human experience, and my identity as an artist is deeply tied to that mission. My communicative medium is art, and through the creative processes I've established within art, I am able to channel my ideas into a visual language.
Blossoms 2024
One of three of my pieces displayed in Downtown Fargo's Streetlight Gallery on Broadway. It is a great honor to be part of public art projects like these, where my art has the opportunity to get into the world. Public art projects like the Streetlight Gallery bring much life and vibrancy into our communities.
Process and Research
Play and artistic freedom are at the core of my practice. As a multidisciplinary artist, I work across and implement various mediums. In recent years, I have focused on sculpting clay and oil painting. My work often stems from a desire to explore a concept, medium, or technique. My research mirrors this approach, concentrating on conceptual ideas and mastering and experimenting with technique through examining historical and contemporary artists. I approach my work with passion, and I avoid rigidity in my process. In school, my projects aren’t just assignments—they're opportunities to play with and express ideas.
Figure on Wood Painting Displayed at NDSU Studio Crawl October 5th and 6th, 2024
My current practice explores ways in which to implement my interest in 3D form with my love of painting. This piece is my first iteration of the semester of Fall, 2024, using found materials of wood and mannequin arms with the process of oil painting. This piece investigates the relationship between humans and nature, using organic material to show the "roots" of humanity in nature, and that a venture from these roots leads to the decay of self, a bleached form.
Challenges and Joys
A challenge I face as a practicing artist is balancing my priorities—between school, work, and personal life. I wish art could possess me, that I could exist as an uninterrupted medium through which art constantly flows. That is an unattainable ideal in the complex reality we find ourselves in. Living in the 21st century, we have more choice and autonomy over our lives than ever, but we also have more responsibilities and distractions. Besides, art is not a steady stream; it’s interrupted, and affected by fleeting emotion. I can’t force myself into a creative state on demand. While art is a central part of my identity, I also have many other identities that I must engage in. Even if I can't create every hour of every day like I'd like to, being an artist is still incredibly rewarding. Expressing myself through my work and sharing my art brings me much joy. I hold an ever-evolving philosophy, nourished by the shared interpretations and perspectives of others. This is a deeply fulfilling mindset, that we are completely shaped by the people and places we surround ourselves with, that we soak information like sponges, and it is entirely up to each individual to process this information and curate one's external influences for their well-being.
My Balcony
One's state of being is shaped by their environment. I surround myself with life and greenery. Supporting more life gives me a fulfilling purpose, and in return, nature provides me with inspiration and energy. I hope to expand this hobby into a culture of self-sustainability and to expand the time I spend outdoors.
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