"Graffiti Turtle" Painting

AN ARTIST OF 25+ YEARS, I STILL LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO I AM AS AN ARTIST EVERYDAY. NOT ONLY DO I ENJOY MEANINGFUL ARTWORK AND EXPRESSING MYSELF THROUGH EACH PIECE, I ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DIVE INTO THE THERAPEUTIC AND EMPOWERING ARTIST PROCESS. CURRENTLY RESIDING IN SPRING, TX AND RECENTLY OPENED MY STUDIO IN HISTORIC OLD TOWN SPRING. I BELIEVE MY LOVE OF THE ARTS STARTED WITH THE LOSS OF MY SOUL MATE AND UNCLE WHO TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG. HE WAS AN ARTIST AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY UNIQUE. VERY WELL KNOWN FOR HIS SKILLS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE HE LIVED AND GREW UP, HIS LOSS LEFT A HOLE NOT ONLY IN THE HEARTS OF ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. ALSO THE NIECE TO AN ART TEACHER AND KNOWN COMMUNITY ARTIST, I HAVE GROWN UP A PART OF THE ARTIST COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, MY SUPPORT GROUP BEING LIMITED I STIFLED MY INSPIRATION AND CALLING TO BE AN ARTIST AND CREATOR. UNTIL THE PAST 5-6 YEARS I ONLY CREATED AND PAINTED FOR MYSELF AND SELECT FAMILY MEMBERS. I WAS AFRAID TO EXPOSE MYSELF TO RIDICULE, DOUBTING MY ABILITIES. MY PERSONAL GROWTH HAS NOW PUSHED ME TO TAKE ON THE PERSONA OF MY UNCLE AND BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY MYSELF AND NOW HOPE TO HELP TEACH AND INSPIRE THOSE AFRAID TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES. THE ONLY VALIDATION I NEED IS MY OWN. I HOPE TO PASS THIS ON TO OTHER ARTISTS WHO MAY BE DOUBTING THEMSELVES AND THEIR ABILITIES. "CONFIDENCE AND SELF EXPRESSION ARE THE KEY TO MAKING GREAT ART" - CARRIE HUTCHINSON