Art Has Been and Continues To Be My Healer

I was born in the U.S. but while growing-up I got to live In Puerto Rico and Colombia. My love for colors, folklore, stories and my sense of curiosity, and sensitivities to life circumstances all began during this time. I moved to Miami in time to start college and lived there for 23+ years.
 
It was during this time that I finally discovered art and decided to major in art education with a concentration in printmaking. Teaching children of all ages for over a decade infused me with delight. To see how art changed kids lives daily was a gift. It was then, I truly realized how powerful art, in all its forms is. It transforms lives and has literally saved mine.
 
I now live in North Carolina, and I am a full-time artist. I am primarily a mixed media painter. This means I allow myself to explore all sorts of media and combine them with paint somehow. Mostly, I paint on canvas but every now and then I get sculptural, explore with photography and dig digital art forms!
 
How does journaling fit in my life? I journal under each and every painting. My journaling occurs during my under painting process. I slap paint on without fear, I write A LOT, I collage with all sorts of meaningful/symbolic ephemera which include printed papers, letters, textiles, yarns, building materials, you name it. My expression may be about issues of the world, issues I am personally dealing with, random thoughts, etc.  The healing part continues when I cover it all (or most) with an idea for my series which begins serendipitously, and with which I flow with, sometimes for days, other times for months or even years. I really like to work in series and currently have 4 series/bodies of work going. I also love to be involved in collaborative projects and public art. My latest endeavour involves a digital art  affiliated with Eye Susan.  This project is in the works and will be up and running by January. Details will come soon!

As a 3-time open-heart surgery survivor, Art is my “center”. It has been and continues to be my healer and that “place” where I am free from the confines of society. It gives me a true doze of hope/light each and every time I am in my studio working.