Art, as a means of coping, has always underpinned my pieces. It has presented itself as an escape and expression as I navigated the ups and downs of Bipolar Disorder, and as a means of exploration for that which I was unable to frame in words. I’ve spent a great deal of time knowing full well that my art is intrinsically linked to my mental health- I am able to alter and adjust my style as per the mental state I am in, allowing me to take liberties with reality. In times of stability I explore emotions in tandem with identity as my prime focus, and in times of angst, I align my drawing style with more repetitive motions, such as stippling and zentangle. I’ve long since wished that my art were influenced by something other than my mental health; that maybe my art should be a reflection of socially relevant events and happenings, but when I started looking at Identity as my main theme, I noticed that having my mental stability anchoring my art will always be the catalyst that propels my ideas.
