Halle and I are so grateful to have been able to work together on a custom piece of commercial art for the Plastic Surgery Associates of Valdosta. They came to us with the idea of using their empty botox vials to form a piece of original artwork to go in their waiting room. We are so pleased with their new 60x40in piece and the way it brings character and class to such a fun and inviting atmosphere. The ladies at PSAV are lovely to work with and I can’t thank them enough for trusting us with their vision!
Over the past several months, I have had access to a printmaking studio where I have been able to experiment with different mediums from what I am accustomed to. I had the freedom to experiment with any technique of my choosing. I choose to focus my studies on drypoint printing using plexiglass plates and monoprinting. While enjoyed experimenting with different ways to monoprint, I fell in love with the way I could tightly render a landscape or subject matter using drypoint. The process is much different from my oil or watercolor paintings, yet highly influence by my pen drawings. By using a scribe, I was able to lightly etch into the plate for the areas I wanted to appear in the distance, while using dark concentrated line work in the foreground to create depth. The rendering of the presence of light on landscape was a highly important aspect of the majority of my prints! Therefore I used the A la poupee method which is an intaglio printmaking technique that allows me to apply different colored inks in different areas of the plate manually. I then blended the inks, in this case yellow ochre and burnt umber, to create the presence of light and dark areas. The message behind this DryPoint print, "Daily Brilliance," is a sign of hope that even after the sun is gone today it will rise again tomorrow. It also represents the time of day that brings me the most inspiration. It displays brilliance through its luminosity and contrast in areas that light no longer touches.
Spiritual Messengers is about a serene and intimate relationship with God, self and creation. It encompasses the journey through grief and stages of losing a loved one. It sheds light on the last stage, acceptance, after enduring the dreadful stages of denial, anger, bargaining and depression. Spiritual Messengers uses the symbolism of the cardinal as a messenger sent from Heaven, a spiritual place of eternal life and prosperity with Jesus Christ. The cardinal is said to represent a deceased loved one at peace resting alongside the Lord, because of His promise of eternal life. The open palm reaching out to creation is a sign of this acceptance and the feeling of overwhelming peace and comfort. I created this print to be a sign to embrace the new beginnings ahead and to have faith in the Blood of Christ.
Drypoint with Top roll, 18”x 15”
My Plexiglass Plate Etch Before Adding Ink and Printing
Drypoint, 18”x 15”
I was so excited to participate again this year in the 2022 Valdosta State University Annual Draw Project Fundraiser at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts. Valdosta State University's Art and Design department means a great deal to me since it helped build me into the artist I am today. Therefore, giving back in anyway I can to the program means the world to me. Since in past years we have not been able to participate in person with a live auction at the opening reception, there has been a month long online auction. This allowed for non local individuals to participate in the auction and gain more exposure to the fundraiser. This resulted in this years fundraiser raising over $8,000 for student art scholarships. It was an exciting event to watch as paintings and drawings from local artist gained followers and bids!
"Day's End," Oil, SOLD
Artist Statement: Emotional Paralysis is an abstract piece that has pulled me out of my comfort zone. It was a piece that honestly helped me express what I was going through on that specific day that I created it. (Side note: I am a very thankful person for all that I have been given in life and I have a pretty wonderful life to be quite honest. That does not mean that I have perfect mental health.) Over the past year, I have tried to talk about my mental struggles as much as possible through my art and to those around me. I found that a lot of the people I talk to, especially us creatives, deal with some of the same struggles. Yet, there is only so much that I can say with words to explain how I feel on the inside. I am very blessed that the Lord has given me artistic expression as a way that I can communicate my internal battles. Emotional Paralysis is a self-portrait of the state of being emotionally frazzled, yet, completely and utterly unable to express it physically. I used all of my emotion through this piece. I could not physically cry, yet, I allowed the hot wax and oil paint to drip as if it was crying for me. The wax allowed me to use mark making and etching as a way to further express my thoughts and visual imagery in my head. I pray that this piece helps someone know they are not alone. The devil truly tries to use my internal battles against me, but through God’s grace and faithfulness I do not fight these battles alone.
“Emotional Paralysis”, Oil & Encaustic, 24”x30”
This year, 2021 was the first year that Valdosta State University has hosted a Diversity and Inclusion Art Show open to the entire University to enter. When they first announced it I somehow immediately knew the direction that I wanted to go in. Over the summer, my Phi Mu sorority sister, Sarah Jane shared her story with me about how people have started treating her differently since the pandemic. I hurt for her and other Asian Americans that are dealing with the same struggle. I never thought when we had that conversation it would inspire me to create a piece about it, but I’m so glad that it did. The piece is titled, "I Am Not To Blame", because there is no reason to place any blame on an individual person because of their skin color. Sarah Jane has lived in the United States since she was adopted as a one year old. Her adopted parents, both white, have raised her and her biological sister ever since. Her adopted father would tell her, "You are just as American as us", she never understood that until now.
I’m thankful for Valdosta State’s Day of Inclusion and their Humanities Art Show. My only wish is that the show could’ve lasted more than one day. If you are interested in seeing the virtual walk through of the show you can find it on instagram via the Valdosta State Art & Design page (@valdostaartdesign).
I pray that this piece can hopefully raise awareness for issues that make such a negative impact on Asian Americans. I love you Sarah Jane, thank you for being my model, inspiration and for being such an amazing friend.
Yesterday was quite the day! Halle Gandy & I visited both the Van Gogh Experience & the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia! I’ve been to the High before when I was in high school. However, this time, the level of appreciation I had for what I saw was unreal. From seeing original works from artist I admire, to the works that I studied for hours in Art History… It doesn’t get better than experiencing it all in person!!! Knowing the history of the art and even the way it was made has enhanced this experience more than ever before! I can not wait for Halle Gandy to attend the art program at Valdosta State University so we can learn and grow together in our art journeys! Here’s to the future and hopefully many many more experience like yesterday!
In 2018 my journey of plein air drawing began. At that time, I didn't even know what plein air was. In that moment, it was just a way to pass the time. It was a way to calm my nerves before my tennis match in Jekyll Island at an annual high school tennis tournament. I wanted to challenge myself to sketch as fast as possible the tennis court in front of me. I used only a pen, because I knew if I used a pencil I would erase a billion times and never get anything on paper. That is just what perfectionists, like myself, do. To my surprise, under the pressure of time I was able to render what was in front of me before I had to start warming up for my match. Of course, it was not a perfect drawing, but I forever have that moment captured in time in my journal.
I dedicated the journal from then on to only drawings done at the site of a location. No photo references, no pencil marks, no erasing. I have taken the journal several places. It has been to Mexico beach several times. Those drawings of Mexico beach will forever be so special to me. I drew a beach house and the main pier that were destroyed from the hurricane shortly after. It is crazy to me to think that I, through my artwork, documented a time in my life and so many memories along with it. The journal has also traveled with me all the way to Boston Massachusetts when I went on a mission trip. I drew the church we stayed at, inside and out, and the cityscape from sitting in the garden beside the church. I even drew from inside the Fenway Park. I may have missed half of watching the game, but it was totally worth it. 
As I continued, I gained my own style for how I decided to capture objects quickly. Little did I know that these fun little sketches would improve my paintings drastically. I messed around with oils once or twice before I took the plein air class at Valdosta State University. This quickly became my FAVORITE class ever. We would meet twice a week at 8am and paint the location for 3 uninterrupted hours. It. was. amazing. (Sorry I am an art nerd and enjoy things like this) For me that class was a blessing in disguise. I was almost burnt out already from my small art commission business on top of my art school work. I was creating 24/7. However, I wasn't taking the time to truly remember why I do art and actually enjoy it. Painting in plein air stopped time for me. I was able to put the chaos of life on hold for those 6 hours a week and enjoy my surroundings, quickly capturing the beauty of the earth around me. Placing my phone on silent so that I have no interruptions I take in the moments of life that can fade so quickly and pay attention to the small things that easily go unnoticed. I like to call it a race with time when I am plein air painting. Everything is constantly changing around you. However, that is what makes it so much fun. The way light hits an object changes an entire picture and view. Sometimes you get caught in the rain. Sometimes you are in the freezing cold wearing 3 layers of pants and jackets. Sometimes it gets dark on you and it is simply time to go home. You never know what is going to happen and in that class I learned to love every second of it. It's been a year since I've taken that class and I am so thankful to know that when I am stressed or when life gets too hectic. A plein air painting is something I can do anywhere and at any time. Even If it is to help me realize how beautiful life is around me and how I need to enjoy it more.
