AGE: 22
SCHOOL: Kent state University
Q: When did you know you were creative?
A: When I was little, I would carry a sketchbook with me everywhere I went. I was becoming this oddly visual person, drawing everything I possibly could from observation. That’s when I knew I was creative.
Q: What does being an artist mean to you?
A: Being an artist means that I get to share my creative self and parts of my imagination to people.
Q: What inspires your artwork?
A: Inspiration truly is everywhere for me, but nature inspires me the most. Specifically, I find motivation through all forms of art, traveling, the sky, our solar system, anatomy, philosophy and all things unusual/weird.
Q: How would you describe your style of art? Now describe it in 3 food flavors.
A: My style is surreal and/or imaginative realism, I would say. It’s sweet, bittersweet & natural.
Q: Do you feel like it is harder or easier to express one’s creative self in 2019?
A: It’s never just easy to express myself as an artist. It isn’t necessarily hard either. But I can’t force myself to paint something if I’m not into it or passionate about it. I often have artist block when I get stuck in my head. So it takes me a little time to break away from certain thought patterns. Then I brainstorm/visualize, sketch out my thoughts and turn it into a painting.
Q: Which place in the universe do you feel reflects your artwork the most? (Can be any country, state, planet, literally anywhere.)
A: Through her nature, I feel like Earth is the only planet that reflects my art the most right now. Most of the time that is anywhere or anything green.
Q: What is your favorite art medium to use and why?
A: Up until a year ago I would work with oil paint. Now I work with acrylic and watercolor-which are more environmentally friendly. I also like mixing my colors from primaries. I find that it’s easier for me to achieve those rich hues that I love working with.
Q: Are there any repetitive themes and patterns in your work? If so, what are they and what do they mean?
A: One repetitive theme I paint is eyes. I have always found eyes to be the most complex feature of the face. The structure, color and the intensity that a person, animal or insect have makes me drawn to them. Depending on the object I am painting, I might also repeat it.
Q: Do you have any favorite artists? Who are they and why?
A: I have a ton of favorites like Yayoi Kusama, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Salvador Dali. Each of their personalities seemed so interesting along with their art.
Q: Do you have a favorite project you have completed?
A: My favorite painting so far has to be my Venus fly trap.
Q: How do you want people to interpret your work?
A: I really just want people to interpret my art in a positive way whether that makes you confident, happy or motivated. I would like for my art to be something that encourages you to keep going for what makes you happy in all that you’re creative in.
Q: What 3 songs best describes your art?
A: The three songs are:
Jukai by Jhene Aiko
Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay
Female Energy by Willow Smith
Q: What are some of your future goals and aspirations?
A: I want to continue painting focusing on large scale works and eventually murals, sculptures and other mixed media. I plan to go in a direction where I am discussing the role we play in our environment through my paintings while being physically and visually more involved.
Q: Would you say that art has had an impact on you?
A: Art has always had a huge impact on my consciousness and my every day life. The way I move, paint and communicate with others. Learning how to take risks and starting things I have no idea how to finish- It grows everyday.
Q: Tell us a something that you do not portray in your artwork that still means alot to you.
A: I don’t portray animals, planets and the human figure in my art enough which are all so significant to me. I plan to paint more of each of these into my future works eventually. I’m working on a website where I’ll be selling prints and more soon
INSTAGRAM: @itschardae