Josie Cotton

My art is the mining of compulsion. As a sufferer of panic disorder and OCD, intrusive thoughts are a constant, irascible enemy. Relief from these gremlins is often found in the endless, ridiculous repetition of lines, forms, whatevers. Of course, having a Masters degree in ancient art history, these shapes rumbling around my head are unique, to say the least. ​After thirty years of this manic rigamarole, I wanted to create something, dare I say, beautiful out of the mental illness that has shaped so much of my life. ​So, I put the black and white figures to paper and drenched its bleakness in glorious, mad color. Hence, an abstract artist was born out of a girl and the gremlin in her head.​   -

Additionally, i believe what makes my work stand out from the majority of the abstract art world is my chosen medium: colored pencil. This labor-intensive process is no joke when your mind wants something dynamic and complete RIGHT NOW. There is no "right now" here, my friends. However, after finding some success in the writing world, I find my hands fit more comfortably, and confidently, around pencil than a brush.

Masters in Art History from Florida State University
B.A. in Art History from University of Alabama Huntsville with a Minor in Literature