from prose to poetry

While working with my Artist Coach last year we did a much needed overhaul of my Artist Statement. An Artist Statement is an Artist’s written description of their work that gives the viewer more understanding of the creator, their processes, and why they create. As I was asked to recollect the stepping stones of my professional creative journey I was reminded of the little, big steps it has taken to get here.

Eleven years ago I had a burning in my chest to begin a blog. A space to share the revelations of my growing faith, healing of my heartache and all of life in between for a woman in her early twenties, preparing to graduate, and trying to find her way in the world. “You have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs” (Katherine Center) the first post proclaimed. And then, a year and a half later, the heaviness of depression flooded in like a high tide and the words that strung together so easily were now becoming like broken seashells on the shore. My thoughts became foggy, disjointed lines upon lines of poetry, and as the tide grew higher my words became lost, my voice drowned out, and all I seemed to have left was a paintbrush, canvas and the faint whisper of the Holy Spirit. My saving Grace.

I decided to take those poems (& create a few new ones) -written, disjointed, abstracted prayers of sorts- during such a fragile season of my life and reimagine them as paintings, and here we are, From Prose to Poetry. And maybe, just maybe, these words and images could somehow be your saving Grace too.

From me to you,

Arielle

The first painting of the series, Bear With Me - acrylic, charcoal, pastel on 48” x 60” canvas.

Bear With Me - the first poem of the season, written in 2013.

To Be Kept - acrylic, pastel, graphite on 36” x 36” canvas.

To Be Kept - written in 2014.

I am looking forward to sharing this full body of work at my very first showing at Commerce Gallery in Lockhart, Texas during the month of April. If you are in town, please drop into the opening on April 7th, 5-8pm or during any of their gallery hours.

~You can view the full series of paintings here~

week 10 : all good things must come

(originally published september 23, 2022 via my Buy Me A Coffee page)

This last week I thoroughly savored the last weekend of summer by finding my way to the Lincoln Center where, unbeknownst to me, Walk With Amal was taking place, meeting new people at a friend's rooftop party, celebrating another Renaissance Church anniversary (I was in NYC this time last year!), and chatting over a meal with a friend at Central Park. It'll be hard to leave behind this sense of ease I've found being here in the city.

Once the week began, it was back to business and finishing up paintings (as best as I could). It's back to planning for the future and how I'll settle back into Austin in the next coming weeks. What a blessing it's been to be able to pause a few areas of life for a bit (bills aside, of course) as I adapted to this new space and way of creating. I understand that not everyone is afforded time and space like this, and I'm truly grateful for your assistance in it.

a reminder I've kept with me since moving from my hometown to Austin seven years ago

In all transparency, although this residency program didn't quite deliver on everything they offered, I'm still glad I took the chance to be out here. I had the opportunity to live in New York City and New Jersey. I had the gift of a large, bright, and accessible studio space. I had the time to prioritize my art (& myself) over the emails and planning and events - and gained so much peace of mind. I was able to challenge myself creatively and personally. And my goal is to carry it all back with me during this next transitional season of life.

visualizing my last collage painting before the glue. I think creating these has been my favorite part!

paintings on paper

A reemergence of curiosity and joy was found in the process here, and I'm looking forward to returning with some cherished work, some failed pieces, and some pieces to be finished just in time for Austin Studio Tour (west weekends).

Thank you for being a part of such a life changing time for me, my art, and my career! Still open to answer any questions you've got, but until then-

Keep Creating,

A

week 9 : encouragement to the outlier

(originally published september 16, 2022 via my Buy Me A Coffee page)

In the last week I got the chance to check out the annual art fair that is Art On Paper, stroll around Williamsburg in Brooklyn as they held the weekly Smorgasburg. The Brooklyn Flea Record Fair was finally back since the start of the pandemic and a friend and I got the chance to dig through the thousands of vinyls local (and a few non-local) shops had to share. I'm excited to bring back a few musical mementos that will remind me of my time out here.

There also happened to be a fiber art show opening happening right outside my studio last weekend, which I enjoyed. It was sweet to see the usually quiet space bustling with people and artists proud to show off their hard work.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to host a NYC curator in my studio (!). I was a bit (very) nervous considering studio visits are still very new to me and I didn't have my larger pieces fully finished. The potential of this connection could be so helpful, and it was encouraging to hear his thoughts and take-aways on my works in progress and even some of the smaller finished pieces. Being emboldened by a Black man in the arts who can empathize with the very rare nature of a Black woman painting in Abstraction was something I really needed to hear as well. The process of creating can become so isolating that to finally open my door to a pair of fresh eyes and new perspective was the confidence boost I needed to finish off these next weeks.

a show of fiber artists from New York and Iceland right outside my studio door

Toyin Loye, "The Port" at Art On Paper

the last big piece I decided to start last week. I've really liked being able to paint large enough to immerse my whole body in the process and get lost in every corner and edge. beneath the layers the title, "It Still Stands" sits.

Another short recap below~

One more week of painting!

-A