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When did your adventure with art begin and what type of art do you prefer?
I have been drawing since I was a young child. I always knew I would be an artist. I love Surrealism and Symbolism, both art movements from the early 20th century that were inspired by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung’s exploration of the psyche. Some of my favorite artists are Frida Kahlo, Odilon Redon, and Fra Angelico. I love figurative art and artists’ self-portraits.
Does modern technology help artists?
I see it as another tool, like a paintbrush or canvas. The field of digital art and software apps for artists is changing daily. There are so many choices it’s impossible to explore them all. Modern tech is very helpful for disabled artists like myself who can’t work on large canvases anymore. I am able to create paintings and drawings using an iPad and Procreate, a wonderful art software app that can be purchased for only $10! The tools and brushes in Procreate are very advanced. It can be used on a mobile phone, but I think the size is too limiting. I also use AI art programs, including Midjourney and Pixamotion. I’m just starting to explore Comfy UI, a very complex AI program that can program an artist’s own style into the software. I’m very excited about using this program as it also allows animation.
Which of your works are most valuable to you and why?
My painting from the ‘90s, “In the Water,” is a 4′ x 6″ self-portrait in oil inspired by a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. It was a very magical and sacred trip. I went with a friend from art school in NYC to Mexico, and we had so many amazing experiences in Oaxaca that inspired my art practice. I also love my digital AI art, especially “Bitcoin Madonna” (created with Midjourney), which has been inscribed on the Bitcoin blockchain. She symbolizes freedom and self-determination through Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. I feel she is a historical piece of art as she symbolizes the beginning of the Bitcoin era. I hope someday she will be seen as the Mona Lisa of Bitcoin.
What do you draw inspiration from?
I’m inspired by other artists’ work, my dreams, meditation states of consciousness (I’m a long-time meditator), nature, and interesting people. Really, inspiration can come from anything. It’s not like I create the ideas; they just come to me from the Universe.
What problems do independent artists face on a daily basis?
Working independently can be a challenge, but being in artists’ rooms on Twitter X is really inspiring. We form a tight-knit community and try to support each other, but we are from all over the world, so we can’t just meet up. Getting my art seen by the right gallery or collector is also a challenge. I live in a rural area in the foothills outside of Clovis, so connecting with other artists in Fresno is a challenge due to driving time, which is close to an hour. Also, the learning curve in AI is very high. It is hard to get enough done in a day because I have so many new apps to learn. I love learning, though; it keeps me young!
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to create art as long as I am physically able to. I hope to eventually have a solo show, but for now, I am learning and building my body of work as an artist. I would really like to help Fresno enter WEB 3 and the crypto blockchain and have a group of artists have a digital art show. I plan to contact the California Media Arts Center and see what equipment they have that can hopefully host a digital art exhibition.
