 It was the perfect Christmas town. Each bow perfectly placed. Every mantle covered in fresh pine and twinkling lights. Everyone was always smiling and spreading the Christmas cheer. Her house was the envy of every house on the block. But she lived alone in her Christmas mansion. So very alone.
 Question: How long does a piece take you to make?
Answer: The amount of time it takes to sit down and complete painting is not the same as the amount of time it takes to come up with an idea, figure out the composition and colors, and finally finish a painting. It also varies greatly depending on size, amount of colors, and amount of detail. Some paintings I finish up in a day or two. Some, take a year. Although, it’s not all time spent painting.  Album covers, gig flyers, and band merch were my first paid art projects. I would sneak into the graphic design computer lab at Kent State University, although that was not my major, and design all day. I couldn’t afford the Adobe design software and this was before their fantastic subscription model, so this was the only way. I know, I’m such a badass.
 We were on our way to the Nashville Film Festival. I was driving, my sister sitting next to me, and my Mom was in the back seat.
My Mom suddenly asks, “So, why is your art so dark now?” It’s a valid question. See, I used to paint a lot of tropical themes, mermaids, palm trees. So, now that I’m suddenly making shadowy figures, ghosts, and rats I guess that would be confusing. |