The Artist Behind The Opal Door
Art is my sanctuary.
Throughout the process of creation for each painting, I lose myself and find myself again. It allows me to feel intricate emotions, express them and move through them. It’s a way to contrast and counteract what is happening in my life and what has happened in the past.
Life sucks, and it’s hard. We all have burdens, fears and traumas - I’ve been through my fair share of hellish experiences. I was a teen mom and a single mom, I’m a part of 4 marginalized groups, none of which can thrive without systemic change. Society likes to shame us, try to change us, and keep us from breaking the cycle. But we don’t have to let it.
Cycle breakers are not afraid to cry, be vulnerable, trust, love, and be loyal. A cycle breaker feels hate because that’s the biggest obstacle - nobody’s talking anymore, just fighting. My art is for the cycle breakers, especially for those that take responsibility, who hold folks accountable, who are doing the hard lonely things, for the weary who can't rest.
There’s a lot of nasty stuff going on with COVID, the government, corporations, money and economics. Our world is a hot mess, and we’re all trying to make do with things that we don’t want to do. Everybody is tired, angry, miserable. We all just want it to stop. Our home should be a sanctuary. I create art because I know how awful it is to look at the same four walls and not be able to escape them.
Bright Paintings for Dark Times
My studio is a place where I can transform that dark energy into something peaceful. When the world feels dark, I focus on finding colour and vibrancy.
Finding vibrancy in what I paint is an expression of my personality. I am never not full strength. I don’t dilute myself for the comfort of others. When using a reference photo, I will edit it until I have found the perfect balance of colour and brightness. My goal is to enhance the elements that only I can see, and paint so that you notice them too. Sometimes it’s shit but sometimes it’s a masterpiece that goes on your walls and becomes part of your everyday life.
I paint with compassion, and my intention is for my art to be accessible. I don’t want to torture the person looking at it, or cause them to expend a lot of energy to enjoy it. Ideally, you can look at my art on your walls and it’s thought provoking, pretty, and saves you from boredom.
While I may use the same palettes and colourways, I never paint something the same way twice. Even when using the same subject, the end result will always be different. I have the gifts of expansion, fresh ideas, and always having something new to contribute.
COVID gave me the space and time to realize these gifts. I figured out how to learn outside of a classroom, and developed the skills and routine that allow me to thrive. Continuing to learn is a priority for me because learning is growing, and through that growth, I can find more ways to effectively express joy in my creations.
Art is the Great Equalizer
We all have moments of despair. Moments where we wish we could change our situation or at least get the closure we need. Oftentimes, we have to do it ourselves.
When I get the paint out, I can process the intricate and challenging emotions that stifle me. I can say goodbye to the hurt, anger and pain of my past because I can finish that chapter for myself. I can give myself closure. What starts as pain transforms into something triumphant and celebratory.
I want people to know that they’re not alone. It’s okay to feel like crap and it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to not have arrived yet, to never arrive, or to focus on the journey. It’s okay to ask for help and it’s okay to prioritize your own self care. We all need to get on to living our lives and doing the things that make us feel vibrant.
My art is the physical manifestation of my own transformations. And I want it on your walls to remind you that you are deserving of peace, capable of change, and worthy of joy.
Maybe one day there will be a utopia, but we’re not there yet. And honestly, if that happened, I’d then need to paint the opposite!
