I Suppose I'll Be a Real Adult Now

My cousin Anne, putting on my shoes- coz she is just that helpful!

This past month, I finally graduated from San Francisco State University!!!

My time at SFSU was possibly the best experience of my life. I gained so many friends, knowledge, a few hangovers, too many laughing fits, a fake arranged marriage and above all I gained perspective on what is important to me as an artist.

Now that I have become a "real adult," I possess the awesome and terrifying position of accounting for my artistic actions. 

My last semester of college finally let me branch out into the type of art I *wanted* to create. I was free to draw and paint whatever I wanted. No prompts, no assigned material, no rules or guidelines other than making pieces of art. Whatever sort of canvas I wanted, utensils, pigments and ideas I had, I was free to do.

While I was in school, any piece I created would be questioned by my audience. "Why did you draw a naked person?" "Why did you make a drawing of random objects?" "What does the pink color symbolize in this painting?" I had to constantly let them know it was always "for an assignment." After my teachers began to assign paintings in my upper division classes, I had a bit more freedom in what I wanted to create. I would still get annoying questions though. "Why did you paint yourself as the subject?" "So you're filled with angst?" "What prompted you to paint this?!!" But I always had the fall back: It was the assignment!

Now that I've graduated, I don't have that excuse. Now I have to account for my art. I can't say "oh, I made a piece about domestic violence because that was the assignment!" I have to own up to it. I have to have an explanation as to why I create what I create.

"You Shouldn't Have Provoked Him" - ©2014

Above - Something that is said too often and needs to change. Stop blaming women for being the victim of abuse, assault, and rape. So I'm now "filled with angst?" Fine. Now I've "become one of those crazy feminists?" Fine. So now I'm finally speaking out about and addressing uncomfortable topics head on. Welcome to my world. I'm usually put on spot unexpectedly, so I guess I'll be the first to initiate.

The cartoons I doodle are easy to explain. The fairies and fantasy are polite for the public. The ink drawings of animals are pleasing to most. However, nudity, feminism, body image, domestic violence, dysfunction, politics, social commentary are usually judged with confusion "Why would you paint that?" Because as an artist or as a person who lives in this world, I don't want to hold back on social issues I feel are important and much of the time, ignored. Yes, I love creating pictures that are pretty, but the point of art is not to make a pretty picture to fit into a mould that makes everyone comfortable.  Art is about creative expression and pushing boundaries within ourselves. Art is about movement and exploration, passion and change. I didn't spend nearly 6 years going to school just to make happy, pretty pictures. Although at first, I thought that was the point.

So I promise, I'll do a better job of being a real adult. I am a person who wants to have discussions, new ideas and collaborations.

I love all of you. You guys have helped me grow so much in this creative journey. Because of you guys, I can be versatile with my art and do what I love all the time. Bring on the surreal, the discussions, the cartoons and the passion.