I love looking back on the evolution of my work, how elements come and go, to re-appear years later. Gradients are one of those transient elements in my paintings. I went to design school when gradients were a big no-no, which was a shock to my teenage powerpoint-loving self.
It took years, and the ombre hair trend, for me to unlearn what is a ‘yes’ and what is a ‘no’ in design and art. Then slowly-but surely, gradients began to make themselves known in my work. Back in 2018, they started to slowly appear, through digital gradients within my figurative work and through spray painted pieces:
They then evolved as I used a risograph printer at my Facebook residency in 2020 (right before lockdown!) During this time, I began walking the line of using the figure as a visual representation of emotion, loosening the forms, invoking more movement, and pulling away from representation:
And in 2021/2022, the happy accidents with my pulled work revealed some beautiful hues that I took mental note on for the future. I knew I wanted pieces to blend, but I wanted a bit more control over how they would do so. This was a start, but I wanted to sit on it a bit longer:
And in 2023, I began playing with the gradient more overtly than I ever have in the past. At first, through my angular pieces, which were inspired by how I drew myself as a child: boxy (not much has changed 30 years later). Then, fully ridding myself of boundaries and leaning into the fields of color taking over the entire composition:
These most recent works are inspired by the neck movements I make to lessen the severity of my vestibular migraines, which I’ve had since childhood. They get a bit worse when I have to take anti-histamines for my allergy shots, which is less often now, but they still make themselves known when I’m overly stressed. It’s also been such a joy to see the shock of folks when they find out it is hand-painted.
Sometimes it takes looking back to move forward.
I Love A Good Museum Print
I’ve always loved museum-style prints and posters, which is why I’m updating my accessible print shop to include them! Can’t wait to see these in your homes:
If you haven’t yet already, it would mean the world to me if you ordered my first book, here.