“Often described by people suffering from anxiety is a feeling of spiraling out of control within their own minds, a carpet getting ripped out from under them.
Living in the twenty-first century, anxiety has become a feeling all too familiar for all of us. The events that transpired over this past year have of course added to the mental strain we all endure on a daily basis.
This painting illustrates my feeling just before the point of spiraling into a deep hole of anxiety, something I have been experiencing my whole life. I can often feel the anticipation building before I experience an anxiety attack. The sensation of being dragged under water, and the heart wrenching ache of existentialism is what I was thinking about as I painted the piece. The figure is helpless and vulnerable, victim to their circumstance. The stark contrast between the black and white stripes, as well as the messy application of paint allude to the anxiety of the human experience. The figure has lost themselves to the piece, and their face is indiscernible.
A recent graduate of SUNY Fredonia, I hope to integrate myself into the arts community here in Western New York. I am a painter, an illustrator, and a book artist, originally from Herkimer, NY. My future here in Buffalo is exciting, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to showcase this recent painting of mine.”