Self-Expression – Voices 19

Since I was a kid, I would always go to art for self-expression. I would do anything creative, whether it’s drawing, painting, making tiny sculptures, or making bracelets out of string.

Right now, I make a lot of digital art like illustrations and animations and design-oriented stuff. That’s what I do the most, but sometimes I like to paint watercolors or sketch traditionally.

I thought when I started working as an artist professionally, I would stop drawing. Because at work, all I do is art, but since I started working, I also started drawing more for myself. The more art I make, the more inspired I feel to make stuff for myself.

My favorite subject matter is people. I’d like to be able to show emotions on people. That’s really hard.

It’s so unique and interesting to be able to portray a person. And make someone believe that they’re more real than just a drawing.

Art used to always be about fun, but as I got older and problems in life became bigger, I realized it can help me deal with my stress. I can make art when I feel good and I can make art when I’m sad or stressed or angry.

It helps to center me and calm me down. It helps me to not focus on the bad things going on, and just focus on the art itself. It’s kind of a break from everything.

My art doesn’t always directly reflect how I’m feeling but I will still put those feelings into the work. I won’t usually make something that’s angry, but I’ll put the emotion into it.

Working on something for so long, you attach yourself emotionally to it. It feels so vulnerable to show it to anyone and even if you can’t see the emotion in the art itself, I know what’s attached to it.

It’s scary to show it to people and have them respond, but it’s also a thrill when they do. It’s freeing. It’s like you’re setting a part of yourself free into the world.