Art Practice

Since starting work at Clever Octopus, I have felt the need for a creative outlet in my life. Taking photos, drawing, and combining them in photoshop is something I love to explore.

The picture above is of a Chinese Elm struck by lightning. There are not many Chinese Elms in Salt Lake and it was cool to have it identified by my cousin who does wood turning. I created the art above the photograph as an alcohol marker drawing on paper using a ruler and three metal rings from glass jar lids. I then scanned the image, edited it in Photoshop, and voila!

Last September, my friend Isabelle took me to a sunflower field near Ogden. The blooms were so beautiful and each took me by surprise. This image is from my work in-progress flower oracle deck. My friends on social media know I love to take photos of flowers and I would love to combine them into an oracle deck one day.

This is a doodle about being lucky even when haunted by ghosts. It is a little trippy. I did it with a pen, trying not to think too much about getting things just right. It features my bookshelf, crystals, kitchen cabinets, and a map. Try not to overthink it. Doodles for days!! Background was done in Photoshop.

This piece is titled “Split Mind.” I am a creature of two worlds, one inside the void of my mind and one of the waking world. The maze of darkness I traverse negotiating these two states is guided by God. Look inside my heart and find my love. Forgive my imperfections. Amen.

I imagine my art as received wisdom from my higher self. I don’t know why something works or doesn’t work, maybe the rules of composition or color theory, but I have no logical explanation for what comes through in my art. It feels wonderful and wild to have created works like these, varied and showcasing a variety of skills.