Artist statement

I began my career as an artist on the beach of San Juan Puerto Rico.  I was on the last few days of my trip and being a typical teenager, had already depleted my funds. Sitting on the beach and sketching, I was approached by someone and they asked me to make them a sign. I made $40 that day. That money not only made my life a bit better for the remaining two days but it also showed me that I could do what I love and make a living at it. I graduated college at 21 with an Advertising Art degree, picked up a paintbrush at 25 and have been creating ever since. Being an artist is like projecting your thoughts and visions onto a canvas where everyone can see. It's one of the purest forms of being an extrovert.

When I paint, there's a spark that glimmers in my thoughts. The idea ignites and then immediately needs to develop into something before it evaporates into thin air. When I have an idea, I go on a quest for references feeding the fire in my brain. From there I paint for days at a time with little stopping until it's finished, because if I stop I risk losing it all to a half finished canvas. (An artist's nightmare.) So I don't stop (or I try not to, anyway.) As I move at a feverish pitch my artwork starts to embody the feeling I had at the moment of it's conception. I used vivid colors but cannot confess to favoring a certain one, as I love and use them all. I veer far from black in shadows unless necessary. It dilutes the intensity of my vision. I'll use my fingers to blend colors, tips of paintbrushes to pull color away, anything to get the desired effect.  Not only do I want people to see what I felt, but feel it for themselves and find familiarity with it. I want them to laugh, snicker and yearn like I do.  But I don't want my art to define it's self entirely to the viewer or for me to define it. It's like telling someone how to feel when they hear a beautiful song. You just don't. Sit back, take it in and be receptive, you'll get it, if it's your thing, if not that's cool too.

Right now I am working to define who I am as an artist without being too boxed in. I love to paint, but I really enjoy sculpting, photography and other avenues of creativity. It all gets my artistic mojo going.  There is a sense of freedom in creating something, no real rules, except for the ones that work for you. When I work with sculpting compounds, I am reminded that everything is flexible and will mold given time and a patient hand. This in turn, slows down my pace so I can be deliberate in my art and make sure my voice is coming through. My paintings are becoming more of a definition of me as an artist. My goal is to prove myself as an artist in the art world and more importantly, to myself. I hope to inspire those who have it in them, but haven't picked up a brush yet. I look forward to learning more about myself through my art and discovering new ways to be the artist I know I will be.

Kerian Massey
903-714-7414

Follow me on twitter or visit my blog to learn more about me and to get some inspiration for your own artwork!