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Brushstrokes of Emotion
(Abstract)
Cathartic art provides psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions. I believe that all art should evoke emotions as I personally paint my feelings into each piece. When painting the portrait of my mother titled “Pins and Needles” I went through a lot of the same emotions I experienced when she left me in the hospital that night; the feeling of pins and needles in my heart. I have expressed my feelings in the only way I know how, through the strokes of my brush. I do not know for sure if I am fully successful in portraying my feelings as well as paying homage to the most important woman in my life. The accompanying series I created along side this piece was Grave Expressions which deals with the colorful landscapes, the statues, the stained glass, and even the wildlife that inhabit the cemetery. It's a contemplative setting in a way libraries and study areas are not yet so often I hear people refer to these landmarks are creepy or scary. They are in fact places rich in history, architecture, peace, beauty and a place to honor the past. I began my first painting series also dealing with the death of my mother at Fredonia State College in New York with the Series Vida y Murtue which sprung from my fascination with vanitas. These were still lifes with infused symbolism referring to the how limited our time is on earth and especially associated with the Netherlands in the 16th and 17th centuries. I also drew on the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos or Day of the Dead which celebrates those who have passed. The flowers were chosen to represent those important to me. 
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ShowCASEI also gave this presentation at the Case Western Reserve ShowCase this year.
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Video of my presentation at the Skeletons, Stories and Social Bodies ConferenceI gave a presentation in March of this year (2018) at the University of Southhampton, UK.
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