My Why For Making Art
Why I Make Art
When I was about 4 years old I made a hand turkey that someone told me looked similar to Jackson Pollock.
I had no idea who this Jackson Pollock fellow was. However, this admirer of my hand turkey wanted to encourage me to continue to make artwork and offered some positive words that planted a seed.
They let me know that there was room for artwork like the type I made. It was these words that have always stuck with me, especially when times were tough and I wanted to quit.
Years passed and I found some small success with winning poster contests for money as a kid, making handmade cards that got some attention, and eventually attending the Illinois Institute of Art at Chicago for filmmaking (now closed).
The first time I showed my artwork off publicly was 2008. After that, things became even more difficult, as my family was vehemently against me pursuing art as a career path or being a fully independent, healthy adult. Even to the point of constantly making me homeless and stealing my personal possessions repeatedly.
I have persisted despite the strong opposition which included blatant sabotage, gaslighting, and outright theft of my artwork and dismissal of my merits. Even my first solo art show in 2013 was completely stolen from me, which put a dent in my pursuit of seeking artist housing and getting recommendation letters.
Getting published in a book for pursuing tattooing in 2013 was also diminished and derided as being something that was trivial and that I any of my efforts was constantly sabotaged by my family, even ongoing in 2024.
I no longer tattoo and am not interested in tattooing anymore because of continual public abuse and other efforts to destroy my image as a professional or any working knowledge in the tattoo world.
Tattooing is not a job and has symbolism and other things within it that are occult and esoteric, which is one reason I loved it so much and believe the privilege of working as a professional tattooer is not something to be taken lightly.
That is how I feel and that is a choice I have made and hold to dearly because of how much tattooing gave me, the people that gave me a chance and taught me this craft, and out of self-respect not to kiss the foot that kicks me.
It’s a shame, because I have had to become very particular and protective about the markets I share my artwork with and who gets to make a purchase. Therefore, I do not market, promote, sell, or advertise where I currently reside.
I only want to work with people who genuinely support my artwork and find value in that.
Making artwork was a way for me to find some solace in my life, contribute to society, and make people smile.
Thank you for all of you have stuck by my side in solidarity. I truly appreciate all of the kind words of support and constant financial support from my art collectors. It really does mean a lot and is not taken lightly.
FAQ
Who am I?
My artist name is ESS22.
It is simply a combination of the phonetic spelling of a letter and a number that has popped up in my life quite often at odd moments. It means nothing deeper than that.
I create mixed media artworks using ink, acrylic, and watercolor on paper. Sometimes I like to work on pieces of wood.
One thing that stands out the most about my artwork is that I focus mostly on creating art cards or original ACEOs.
(So, I work small. And I do not think that as a visual artist, I absolutely must work as large as possible for some type of external validation.)
Genuinely, I enjoy the rapid visualization and iteration of ideas or visual concepts.
However, I don't shy away from working on larger pieces of paper. Typically, larger works do better for me when presented at galleries.
So, for any interested collectors, I only offer original artworks (mostly art cards ACEOs) online.
PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE copies of my artwork, which are stolen photographs of my work and not something I approved of or support.
And it's strange because I am not a well-known or super popular or respected artist. Who wants to buy my stolen artwork? Strange world.
Also, I DO NOT make or offer NFTS of my artwork and am not interested.
Personally, as an art collector myself, I adore having physical copies of original artworks or even physical prints.
What type of artwork do you make?
I love to paint on paper with a brush and ink, and often add other mediums to create a mixed media piece.
Most of my artwork is miniature because I like creating ACEOs. However, I do make artwork from 5x7-inches or 11x15-inches in size.
My art collectors can choose to purchase my original art cards as available on eBay. Just search for my artist name ESS22 and look up ACEOs.
Lately, I've been focusing on painting ladies, flowers in vases, and the occasional skull or tattoo-esque imagery. Oooh. Fancy.
Why do you make the work that you do?.
As an unapologetically alternative and heavily marginalized woman, in solidarity with similar kindred, my artwork and art making is a vehicle to demonstrate that our visions, ideas, and desires have a right to exist and we are granted the ability to actualize our wants, needs, and have a voice.
Ever since I was little, I dreamed of working with my hands in a creative field, and I can’t see myself doing anything else.
Plus, I hate being around other people and find them draining. Years of being smeared, gaslit, robbed, and mistreated will do that. My best life is spent cozying up in my workspace with my materials for hours, creating artwork as long as I can get away with it.
What influences your aesthetic?
I used to be a tattooer and loved the hell out of it. Unfortunately, after being the target of malicious campaigning, smearing, and disgrace for over 5 years, I can no longer serve as a tattooer.
Artwork is also a vehicle to work out my personal trauma, explore dreams, esoteric concepts, and other ideas about society to achieve my goals.
And I also make artwork for the pure sake of exploring an aesthetic or concept, with no major purpose in mind, other than the joy of immersing myself in the moment, painting and working creatively with my hands for a greater purpose than myself.
My making artwork is about finding a way for me to still provide a service.
For me, my creating artwork is about service to others, as it was with me when I formerly had the privilege to work as a tattooer... Being an artist is my contribution to society and reinforces my right to exist and express that which comes from beyond the veil.
The medium I chose are simply the tools to translate the messages and make the work exist in a physical world.
How long have you been making your work?
I have been painting officially since 2008, when I first had the opportunity to hang up my artwork in a public space, a popular local coffee shop (now closed).
Where can I find your work?
You can find my work for sale online on eBay.
Art Exhibitions
December Holiday Show, Laguna Art, CA, December 2022
The Holy Art, Art on Loop, UK, December 2022
"The Business Card Art Show," JKR Gallery, UT, September 2022, Group Show
Las Laguna Art Gallery, CA, "Women in Art," July 7 - July 30, 2022
HelvetArt, SWEDEN, Online, July 2022 Group Show
Rochester Contemporary Art Center, NY, "ROCO 6x6," 2022, June 3 - July 17, 2022
"11th All Women Art Exhibition," January 2022, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery - Special Recognition
Surface Art Gallery, UK, International Postcard Show, January 2022
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery, "10th All Women Art Exhibition," January 2021
Contemporary Art Gallery Online, "All Colors," December 2020
Colors of Humanity Art Gallery, "Black and White," July 2020
Las Laguna Art Gallery, CA, "Monochrome," April 2020
Colors of Humanity Art Gallery, "Red," February 2020
Sticker You Presents "Repeeled Art of the Sticker Show," Toronto, CANADA, January 2020
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery, "9th All Women Art Exhibition," January 2020
Red Studio Garage, MN, "Slideshow Sideshow," September 2019
Las Laguna Gallery, CA, "Comics, Anime, Cartoons & Fantasy," April 2018
Publication/Media
Current Masters Vol. 6, WWAB
Artist Closeup Magazine, October 2023
CAP Magazine Summer 2023
Art Hole UK Magazine No. 3, August 2020
The Artblog, Artists In The Time Of Coronavirus, Spring 2020