artist statement 
The conceptual structure to my artwork is built from mythmaking, girlhood, and spirits. Spirits as it relates to the Japanese concepts of yokai or kami, god-like apparitions that have a consciousness and a physical vessel.

The crux of my practice is the struggle to create and manifest these spirits as if they are already in existence, and not a creation of mine. They are birthed from human activity, feelings, and thoughts. They grow as a response or reaction to these humans. In the past few years, I’ve been focusing on making spirits that have grown from both the social construct and the lived experience of girlhood and womanhood.

The first part of the process is the cognitvization of girlhood. After putting words and definitions to these experiences, the struggle is then to imagine it as a physical entity. I ask myself a series of questions: What would this look like if it were alive? What would it feel? What would it see? What would it want?

The answers to these questions help to develop these spirits their own personhood, intentions, and desire. Then I can begin to create their physical vessel.

Some of the ways that these concepts take form is through 2D drawing and sometimes it’s sculptural work. Drawing is the way that I can explore and define the concept.

Sculptural work is the way I imagine them fully formed. I use found objects, like bibles, and non-traditional art materials, like nail polish, as well as traditional fine art mediums (charcoal and pencil) to bring these ideas to life. The drawings are a process of discovering the language that I need to realize this concept.

This past semester I’ve been developing this language through drawing, organic mark-making, and experiments with media. Repetitive symbols emerge, which I will use to flesh out the language of my work.

bio
I discovered I had a talent for drawing at 11, when I was given hour-long drawing lessons from my dad's coworker every few weeks. I also discovered the flow-state. Drawing for hours, blocking the world around me out, while I escaped in both imagination and the physical act of drawing. They were moments of peace.

And I kept going with art. The only major I considered after high school was fine arts. There just was no other option for me. The answer to whatever I was looking for in life was somewhere inside of art. I learned the traditional techniques of drawing and painting, and how to refine craft.

The more I grow as an artist, I have learned to question and challenge the limits of my art practice. I experiment with technique and bring in unconventional materials. I am interested in exploring narrative and collective myth-making in my work.

contact information
angelajslick@gmail.com
angelajslick.myportfolio.com