The Blue Whole Gallery is proud to celebrate Artemis Brown, our November Student of the Month – an artist who uses creativity as a way to explore and process the challenges we all face in life.
“Creating art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Artemis shares. “I use art to process different things in my life, and I tend to use a lot of symbolism in my artwork.”
Artemis’s passion began early. “I started drawing when I was in first grade. Some things that I liked to draw were from nature, such as trees, animals, and birds.” As her skills grew, so did her curiosity. “I started drawing people when I was in late elementary school. In middle school, I tried to experiment with painting. I felt challenged with painting, so I tended to float back to drawing because it was more comfortable and I felt better about my drawings.”
High school brought a turning point. “In high school, I was inspired to pain more. Even though I did not feel confident about my paintings,” Artemis admits. “I wanted to improve my painting skills because it makes me feel like I am gaining experience and capturing my true self. It also helps me feel more focused.”
When it comes to inspiration, Artemis embraces the unusual. “I am inspired by things that are out of the ordinary. My artwork could be perceived as strange, dark, or odd. A message I am sending to viewers is that it is okay to be different and weird in your own way.”
Artemis chose the acrylic painting “Unattended Grappling” to display in the gallery. “This painting is a representation of the struggles of my abandonment issues. The use of colors and symbols that are conveyed in this piece represent (the) emotions of fear and vulnerability”, she explains. “When I create paintings like this, it helps me process these feelings and I tend to feel better through the process and completion of the artwork. It is like I get to release those thoughts and leave them on the canvas.”
Reflecting on the personal meaning behind her work, Artemis notes, “When I create art, it helps me process and it is therapeutic for me. My art is mostly for myself, but if my art speaks to anyone else, I would be honored to inspire them to reflect and heal any struggles they might face.”
Artemis’s art work is on display throughout the month of November at the Blue Whole Gallery, located at 129 W. Washington St. in Sequim, WA. The public is invited to view her pieces and attend the First Friday Art Walk on November 7th from 5 to 8 p.m.