Artist Statement & Personal Portfolio
I believe that the best way to explain the development of an artist is to understand their psychological and emotional development. Artists develop through a process of influences which are bound by both the context of the society in which they live and said the cultural dictates of that society. My upbringing exposed me to art, and I believe that this exposure is what generated a lifelong interest in both art and art education.
I grew up surrounded by artists. My mother made clothes for me and my sisters when we were young. My childhood memories of my house, every surface was covered with my mother’s handmade cloth covers trimmed with colorful ribbons and laces. We made clay sculptures, stuffed animals, and leather bags. She taught me that origami is not only just to fold, but also to color my impressionism paint. She taught me that cooking is a type of art that touches someone’s heart if you put enough passion and love. My grandmother, while in the hospitals over a few decades, she made art and gave them to her family and friends. She made animals with tubes. They were colored with a couple strands of threads inside and had beads eyes and noses glued on it. She made dolls with the limited supplies she had access to, but they were my ultimate favorite because they had such a delicate pretty outfit that I wished I owned. My aunt used to own a small craft shop that was filled with yarns, threads, buttons and fabrics. My favorite place to visit during summer break was her shop and explore new skills and projects. She taught me countless skills and I was always very proud to show my mother what I made during my stay at her house. Surrounded by people like them naturally formed me to make and love art.
After I had my first child, I decided to stay home to devote my time to raise my children. Every day I drew, painted, built and cooked with them. I wanted to teach them basic art skills. I wanted to give them what my family gave me, love for art. I wanted to teach them that making art is can be a part of everyday life to make it richer. I had a box of recyclable materials saved, such as plastic containers, paper towel tubes and pieces of twine. I would have my children make Father’s Day gift out of it. I would take my children out to the backyard in the fall, where there are many twigs and acorns. I would have them tape and glue them on the construction paper to make shapes of animals and peoples. I wanted to teach them that they can turn a trash into a precious treasure. I thought I was the one who was teaching, but one day, I realized how much I was taught by them. I realized how pure the children can perceive things. I realized that young children have no rules of what can happen and what cannot. They are expert of coming up with unique and creative ideas. But as we get older, it seems to become harder to go beyond what is commonsense.
Through these life experiences, I have developed a deep appreciation for how art is transformative. I bring these experiences into the art I create. The artist process allows me to fulfill the promise of these experiences. My art is a way to connect to these influences and expand upon them.
I grew up surrounded by artists. My mother made clothes for me and my sisters when we were young. My childhood memories of my house, every surface was covered with my mother’s handmade cloth covers trimmed with colorful ribbons and laces. We made clay sculptures, stuffed animals, and leather bags. She taught me that origami is not only just to fold, but also to color my impressionism paint. She taught me that cooking is a type of art that touches someone’s heart if you put enough passion and love. My grandmother, while in the hospitals over a few decades, she made art and gave them to her family and friends. She made animals with tubes. They were colored with a couple strands of threads inside and had beads eyes and noses glued on it. She made dolls with the limited supplies she had access to, but they were my ultimate favorite because they had such a delicate pretty outfit that I wished I owned. My aunt used to own a small craft shop that was filled with yarns, threads, buttons and fabrics. My favorite place to visit during summer break was her shop and explore new skills and projects. She taught me countless skills and I was always very proud to show my mother what I made during my stay at her house. Surrounded by people like them naturally formed me to make and love art.
After I had my first child, I decided to stay home to devote my time to raise my children. Every day I drew, painted, built and cooked with them. I wanted to teach them basic art skills. I wanted to give them what my family gave me, love for art. I wanted to teach them that making art is can be a part of everyday life to make it richer. I had a box of recyclable materials saved, such as plastic containers, paper towel tubes and pieces of twine. I would have my children make Father’s Day gift out of it. I would take my children out to the backyard in the fall, where there are many twigs and acorns. I would have them tape and glue them on the construction paper to make shapes of animals and peoples. I wanted to teach them that they can turn a trash into a precious treasure. I thought I was the one who was teaching, but one day, I realized how much I was taught by them. I realized how pure the children can perceive things. I realized that young children have no rules of what can happen and what cannot. They are expert of coming up with unique and creative ideas. But as we get older, it seems to become harder to go beyond what is commonsense.
Through these life experiences, I have developed a deep appreciation for how art is transformative. I bring these experiences into the art I create. The artist process allows me to fulfill the promise of these experiences. My art is a way to connect to these influences and expand upon them.