Artist Statement
You're Never Over

Grief, Chaos, Depression - these are just a few feelings that overcame my world and became my new normal. In the span of a little over a year, I lost my childhood dog and both of my grandparents; each within a few months of each other. The intense grief that consumed my life when losing my best friend, and my grandparents - who helped raise me and my sisters, was and still is indescribable. During this time, I longed for the past, and I was searching for something that was very hard to find in such a dark time – hope.

My work demonstrates me finding that hope. The ceramic forms and paintings I have created consist of exploring and expressing the feelings that come with grief and the grieving process. My work expresses the light that can be found in a dark and chaotic time. Grief can feel overwhelming, and it can feel suffocating, but the light will always shine through – this is what I wanted to convey in my work. I began with exploring this feeling through clay. My ceramic forms represent a 3D perspective of grief and depression that is trying to trap the light inside, yet the light is not overtaken. The candle represents feelings of comfort, warmth, and hope that I desperately craved. I was not going to let grief take the little light that remained, away from me. The paintings represent the same feelings in a 2D perspective, the bright and warm light that will not be taken over.

Both my ceramic forms and paintings, embody a meditative art practice called neurographic art. This practice is a therapeutic approach to art and is made by drawing freeform lines that are sometimes called neuro lines. This is meant to make connections between the conscious and unconscious and bring forth awareness and mindfulness, resulting in reduced stress, anxiety, pain, and feelings of grief.  I found myself utilizing this practice and wanted to create my work with this approach.

Grief, Chaos, Depression – are still just a few feelings that still overcome me, but it is not so hard anymore. The hope, light and comfort are much more present now than before. Your brain can do a lot of damage if you let it, but it can also be your savior and that is what my work expresses.

This work is dedicated to my grandparents, Kari and Elsa Hough.