Process

Through my totem of expression, “the wood tells, whereas the canvas questions. The word declares whereas the silk feels. The face reflects, whereas the body discovers, and space allows for experience." I am an artist because art is the first lens I apply to the world around me. Before I understood myself, art was a bridge connecting me to my changing landscapes. I have always reacted and interacted with color to define the context of my understanding.

In the beginning, the medium that I discovered was acrylic on wood. The spirit of the wood speaks to me. My method is to respect the wood by following the grain to reveal the images that the wood is narrating. As the story unfolds, the grain changes; therefore, I must also change using colors and hues. When I work with wood, the grain tells me how to flow, bringing out what is already there. Through my paintings, I became more of a storyteller in my process.

After a severe car accident in 2012,  I lost my ability to see colors, connect with the world around me, or even have the confidence to pick up a brush.  As I learned to regain my perspective, art is the source of my continued healing. My art helps me cope with anxiety and PTSD, communicate my thoughts, and find joy in redefining myself.

Silk painting created the next chapter in my journey. Like the wood, the silk takes me on a journey of color and collaboration. Through silk, the conversation of the wood is re-interpreted. The silk restored my confidence and allowed me to transition to canvases that permitted me to question. Having art back in my life allowed me to acclimate to my new normal and embrace my process of being a survivor of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

In 2016, I suffered a greater tragedy… the sudden loss of my youngest child, Kaiya "Soskii" Smith, a rising youth slam artist and designer.  Kaiya played a pivotal role in my recovery. She always encouraged me to be the creative I was born to be, and we gave each other space to grow as women and artists.  I challenged my grief with my creativity in her honor and our love for learning.

Now, as I continue to discover myself in whatever medium or materials I use, they talk, and I listen. They direct, I process.  They pose. I paint. They bless. I sign.