Chaanda
Profile
Contemporary Abstract Artist. Earthy, textured pieces. Acrylic on canvas.
I have been attracted to art all my life. As a little girl I was not into Barbie’s, but rather coloring books and arts and crafts. I took a few art classes in high school and one in college, however, I have had no formal training whatsoever and most of my life was not focused on art or painting. I am a self-taught artist who works entirely from feeling and inspiration.
Most of my professional years have been consumed by modeling, of which I still do. While modeling, I went to college in the 90’s and got my Masters of Social Work and a minor in Psychology. Fully expecting to start practicing therapy and one day hanging out my own shingle, I graduated in 2004 and as Murphy’s Law would have it, my modeling career took off.
At age 31 in the summer of 2004, I first discovered abstract art when I moved into my first home and realized I needed artwork for my walls but had little money to buy it. It came very natural to me and I realized it was very pleasurable to me, a sort of release. However, because of my career I did not focus my energies on painting once my walls were adorned. But, after two years of my husband and I going through 4 failed pregnancies, I found myself in a very dark place. It became apparent that I needed desperately to get out of my harmful mental state and so I began to paint again for therapeutic purposes. I FELL IN LOVE. IT SAVED MY LIFE. And as they say…the rest is………. My new life as a painter!
There is a beautiful happy ending (or should I say… a beautiful happy, new journey) to my story… my fifth pregnancy was successful and now have a PERFECT beautiful baby boy who is now 13 months old!! He was absolutely well worth the wait! I took a year off of EVERYTHING to be with him. He has given me more inspiration than all of my dark days!
Texture is most important to me when creating a piece, followed by color, then form. Contemporary Abstract is my preferred style; Impasto is a desired technique. Nevertheless, it is very difficult for me to contain myself into a single label or style, because I paint what I feel and there is no specific technique that is employed. This is what I enjoy most about “Abstract Art”, the unabashed freedom to express your current cerebral state! Technical, artistic words are limited when describing my work and style as I’ve not been educated in that realm, however I do know what I love, what looks good to me, and what flows from my heart. I create technique as I go, allowing my tools, color and mood to discover the next original technique. I am attracted to natural forms and earthly representations.
Thank you for your interest in my art. I am thankful for my life journey, which brought me here today. I hope I can bring a little inspiration to your life too!
Groups
Chaanda is a member of Healing Through Art (HTA).
