ARTIST STATEMENT

I take inspiration from nature, objects and elements in my daily life, and characters from my imagination. I often use these characters–which can range from cute, simplistic companions to highly detailed and wolfishly grotesque creatures–to illustrate and explore different elements of my mental health, particularly in terms of fear of the unknown and pushing past self-doubt. I also enjoy working with more realistic subjects such as flowers, plants, and still lifes as a means of experimenting with new techniques and slowing down to appreciate the simple beauty of my surroundings. Regardless of what medium I am working in, I strive to nurture my love for the creative process and the childlike wonder that comes with making art for art’s sake. I believe maintaining that wonder and curiosity is an important practice–a continuous return to the self even when the distractions of modern life try to pull us away.

ARTIST BIO
Ren’s passion for art began at an early age when they would visit their grandma’s house in Florida and collect berries and plants from her garden to dye scraps of fabric and make sculptures from leaves and sticks. This love of creativity developed into an interest in drawing that continued to grow throughout their childhood. In 2019 they graduated from Furman University with a BA in Studio Art, and have continued to nurture their artistic practice in their free time since moving to the Triangle area. They enjoy working with traditional mediums including pen and ink, colored pencil, and marker to create both bold cartoons and realistic works. Their most recent explorations include painting with gouache, writing comics, and bookbinding.