Take Me Away [Drawing]
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Artist Statement
My intent was to create drawings that shed light on substance abuse. Perception and reality are altered and the users’ identities shift. Users present a facade to the world, but we often don’t understand what led to their abuse. Nor do we know what they face in the comforts of their own space. Prescription medicine, drugstore medicine and alcohol are very common substances to abuse and are the focus of these drawings. The scenes are set with the person lying in bed indulging in substances as a part of his everyday routine. The substance starts as a solution but overtime becomes the problem. The abuser in these drawings loses himself and shields his face to illustrate the fear, disconnect, intense sadness, loneliness and anxiety he feels. The use of these substances could be for a variety of reasons. One of the reasons could be a nonverbal cry for help. He could be facing a serious battle, possibly fighting for his life. The drawings were staged, photographed, then creatively edited to create a cohesive series on substance abuse. These drawings are fully rendered in color pencil on Bristol board. Overall, there are often signs of bigger emotional and psychological issues within a user’s life than just the substance.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Elliott Jones, Alison Stinely
Presentation Type
Artwork
Disciplines
Art and Design | Illustration
Session Title
Art Exhibit
Location
Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Art Gallery
Start Date
2-2-2019 8:00 AM
End Date
2-2-2019 12:30 PM
Take Me Away [Drawing]
Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Art Gallery
Artist Statement
My intent was to create drawings that shed light on substance abuse. Perception and reality are altered and the users’ identities shift. Users present a facade to the world, but we often don’t understand what led to their abuse. Nor do we know what they face in the comforts of their own space. Prescription medicine, drugstore medicine and alcohol are very common substances to abuse and are the focus of these drawings. The scenes are set with the person lying in bed indulging in substances as a part of his everyday routine. The substance starts as a solution but overtime becomes the problem. The abuser in these drawings loses himself and shields his face to illustrate the fear, disconnect, intense sadness, loneliness and anxiety he feels. The use of these substances could be for a variety of reasons. One of the reasons could be a nonverbal cry for help. He could be facing a serious battle, possibly fighting for his life. The drawings were staged, photographed, then creatively edited to create a cohesive series on substance abuse. These drawings are fully rendered in color pencil on Bristol board. Overall, there are often signs of bigger emotional and psychological issues within a user’s life than just the substance.