My art comes from my environment and my community and that where I take my inspiration. Much of my paintings and drawings manifest itself through unconventional materials like paper bags and other found objects. The materials are often chosen to fit within the context of the subjects… My works references lost souls that walk amongst us and constants flux with their mental health illness, drug addictions, and social handicaps…These individuals roam the streets with uncertain futures and become the forgotten people unable to assimilate to their environment and society. My works has a voice it alive, honest, true, and vibrant! My works has taken a new level as I begin exploring more of the religions within the context; I feel it making more of a visual connection when combined with the subject matter.
I am process artist, who always explore with varies materials. When I start a painting, I don’t plan out too much. I just sort the materials, I want to use and my ideas comes true. When I create a painting, I work on multiple paintings. I don’t like being restricted. I paint on brown paper bags and found items; especially those found outside the curbsides. My greatest finds are those items found in the thrift store. The materials I find can be recycle into something else. I am a true believer everything and everyone must be given a second chance at life. My drawings materials are pens that are taken away from the patients. I store and clean them and a second chance to be reused again, not discarded. When the patients are discharge from the hospital they discard their paper bags. I gather them, they become my painting materials. I find that brown bags have much to say. More so, how they were treated prior to me getting them. Their identity, speaks on how they have been handle.
And how they talk to me, from there I begin to create.
My work speaks to the young people I work with. They are always fascinated by what they see and feel. I believe in always showing my students what I create, because they see the Art right there and then. When they feel it and see it, it’s an experience with in itself, I love it when they light up and they start asking many questions they become entrive. When I work with the students, I encourage them always to be “green friendly” and to think outside the norm. I find students are always afraid to express themselves… I always tell the students, there is no mistakes in art just a beautiful accident waiting to happen, so just work from there.