#augustforartists Preferred Medium

This is probably my most frequently asked question:
'Yeah but what is your favorite thing to do. You know, that you can't live without?'

Every time I answer with the same thing. I love it all. I could not do one thing without the others. It's a lifestyle. I am honestly always looking for new ways to create. I can't stop exploring ways to express myself. Although I don't have one medium that I love the most, I can give you a bit of insight into how I got to where we are right now.
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There was not distinct time I remember 'becoming' an artist, I just always was one. From birth. It seems like there was no other outcome or path for me. I vividly remember making jewelry to sell at the park to family and friends when I was young. I'd spend other days imagining different businesses to share with anyone who would listen. Another vivid memory I have is of panning for rocks at the beach of our family's cottage on Higgins Lake. These are some of my earliest memories, before I can remember going to school.

As I got older, drawing and writing took more of my time. Then when I was in middle school I was painting large canvases in the hallways, painting the theater sets, helping our art teacher paint murals, teaching kids in a small summer camp. An early model of a  point and shoot camera eventually made it into my hands as well. Photography became a way to explore places and helped me relate to people in a new way. Eventually I'd take more advanced classes in High School, even traveling between two different schools to learn advanced fine art techniques as well as film photography. 

For many years it was my intention to become a widely known photographer. In college I kind of dropped all my other creative outlets like drawing and jewelry making. I took advantage of all the different studio spaces available to me in school while earning my BFA from University Of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It was in college that I rediscovered my childhood love for jewelry design. It all came back to me in an introductory metals class.  Then my attraction to gemstones and crystals reemerged after college while designing collections of jewelry. This was when I founded All Around Style which is now a retired brand. Citrine Tangerine is my latest venture.

Even after going over this time line, it is apparent that I'm missing the fashion aspect of my creative passion too! I was always dressed differently or customizing my clothing and appearance. I'd also model and style up looks with my sisters and friends. We'd take photos of one another, passing the camera around snapping editorial pictures. Fashion is such a fun part of life! Later I taught myself how to screen print clothing. Collaborated with many small designers in Detroit after college nd even took a collaborative collection to NYFW.

​Painting and drawing was present through out this timeline in my exposure, involvement, and  fascination with Graffiti and it's culture.  It's always peaked my interest as an artist. The colorful, architecture of letters, the graphics, how it's practiced. I'd have died a very miserable person had I never scratched that itch. I met some of the most amazing people while learning how to do a hand style, design a one line throw-up, and exploring the cracks and crevices of different major American cities. The filling up of sketch books. The art parties. The markers, the nights out. It was all so amazing. I'd not trade the experience for anything.

Working with kids and art also has had a gigantic influence on my works. I never knew I wanted to have kids of my own until I worked with young people. There are a few books published about these experiences and this is yet another creative medium I love to work in. Publications! Books, magazines, printed media. It's nearly impossible to summarize the ways my life has left an impression on my creative style and guided the exploration of Medium! Perhaps the next or another prompt in this social challenge will have us diving into this topic.  Who knows! Stay tuned to find out more! Feel Free to join the #augustforartists social prompts!