Jun 8, 20213 min read

Evolution of Self

One of the biggest lessons I have learned in my art psychology journey, is that you can't really expect to create a an oil-painting masterpiece in just one sitting. The same is true for ourselves as individuals and free-thinkers; we are always working to improve on ourselves and our qualities of life, and we use our experiences in life to do so. No person will ever reach perfection, and the same goes for works of art, but the trick is to base the design off of what YOU like or what YOU value or what YOU think is aesthetically pleasing. There is no correct way to live life or paint a portrait because it is all subjective, you either live for you or you live to impress others; I have learned that painting to impress others steals the fun and fulfillment that I get when I paint for me.

I have been fortunate enough to have recently visited the Museum of Modern Art in New York City with my sister, as well as the Van Gogh Immersive Experience in Atlanta, and the inspiration was like a stormcloud swirling and gathering in the back of my mind. I was able to see some of the most famous artists' works of art, and I was able to pick out a few things that I greatly admire in the artists' techniques and interpretations.

There were several female artists whose paintings spoke on the identity of women being tied to their

ability to have children, or their physical appearance. For example, Frida Kahlo had a piece at the MOMA called "Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair". This oil painting featured Frida dressed in a pants-suit, sitting in a chair, hair cut off, and the locks of hair surrounding her on the floor. Her signature mustache and unibrow were also depicted, which led me to believe she was trying to make the statement that she is more than her looks and her hair, and she chose not to base her identity off of her physical appearance.

Monet and Van Gogh, I noticed, painted breathtaking landscapes of layers on layers of smoothly blended oil paint. I cannot express how impressed I was at the sheer amount of detail that was created by mere smudges of paint, painstakingly applied so that each shade of vibrant color is visible to admire, and yet still skillfully blended. Underneath the strokes of soft paint, was just filled with more and more layers of contrasting, complementing, and coordinating colors to add to the texture and dimension of the painting. Absolutely breathtaking.

I was also surprised at how much I felt that I could relate to Van Gogh, and his struggle with mental illness.Thankfully I have the medical resources available to me to receive treatment for my depression, and thankfully I do not experience the bouts of psychosis that Van Gogh suffered through, but I know a bit about putting my emotions into paint. His paintings were chaotic when his mind was chaotic, in a similar way that my paintings develop with my mind as well.

For the month of July, I will be one of 6 artists to be featured in the Inman Perk New Artists Gallery in Gainesville, Ga, and my recent adventures have inspired me to change my lineup and add some new pieces. I will have approximately 7-8 paintings on display, one of which being my first self-portrait. Others will include paintings I have already done, but I have gone back and done touch-ups and add-ons.

Enjoy this little preview of the painting-makeovers I have been working on, and feel free to check out the New Artists Gallery in a month!