This past year we’ve all experienced times of stress, tension, and uncertainty. It has also been a time of reflection; a time to slow down and work on ourselves as individuals. This year I’ve worked on creating interesting compositions and honing my skills to create meaningful works of art. I’ve closed one chapter of my artwork and have started to explore new content. Many of the works I’ve created have ties to the pandemic, especially when it comes to the idea of isolation. While in quarantine, we isolated ourselves from those we were used to seeing on a daily basis.

However, through the power of social media, we have continued to be connected in other ways. We have had to wear masks physically, and in some ways have created mental masks that keep us emotionally distant. Our comfort zones have shifted and the social aspects of our lives have changed because of the need to stay socially distant. My work explores the situations and experiences we have created for ourselves while in isolation. 

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The first series, titled Life in 2020, is inspired by Manet’s compositions and the pandemic. Each painting represents the isolation and connections created while being socially distant. This is the last series where I will be exploring the gasmask/ plage mask concept.

 

The second series, that I am currently working on titled States of Mind, focuses on the hobbies, activities, and emotions felt during the past year. Each painting showcases one of my friends and the way they felt or things they did during quarantine, and how they are continuing to cope a year later.