About the exhibit

“You have to systematically create confusion, it sets creativity free.”

-Salvador Dali

“Not understanding is the beginning of learning.

Confusion is a Reflection of Growth.

Keep moving forward”

- Robin Sharma

From 2019 to now, I used watercolor paper, to canvas boards, to sketch canvas, roll canvas and also painted on wood. I used brushes, sponges, knives, plastic, foil, and many other materials. I usually used acrylics paint, compound mud, sand, glue, pen, markers in my past paintings, this time I also used oil. I tried my first Plein Air painting using Oil, and since then, adding more oils into my new set of Art. I now used more photos for references, but still with a lot of abstract to mix in the imagination.

About the artist

In June 2024 was my first show in Studio IX. This was to honor my son Michael L. R.Vest. who suddenly passed away, at 24 years old. I found solace in painting from grief through revival of paintings. Even though I was an avid artist, it was mostly pencil, chalk, and crafts, but rarely paint. When I started painting, I was following more of Impressionists and Abstract style as I was teaching myself.

January 2025, my Journey from Grief to Art to Growth, is a new path of honoring not only my son Michael, but my other two kids and several grand-kids who celebrate my growing into the new me.

In June 2024, I did my first art show here at Studio IX for my son. Processing from Grief to Art was such a beautiful way of honoring him, but now I’m starting the journey of finding “Who am I now". This process is much harder than I thought and with growth, comes change. Mixing styles from Impressionists and Abstract to Self-reflections, showing the conflicting emotions I am feeling and trying to share in Art and Expression. Working to show the beauty, and joy of the life around me, while never forgetting the pain and sorrow. As I work on my artistic journey, it is as hard, if not more confusing, as finding who I want to be tomorrow. Do I forever stay in grief mode because love is more?

In this journey, I am lost without a propose of any one passion except that I want to paint. So, who am I now without my son? Who am I to my other kids who is still with me? Who do I want to be for my family and myself as an Artist? Who do I want to be? And finally Who do you see in my paintings?

Can you see the confusion in my paintings? The conflict that is going on within my solace? Styles and Colors, light and dark, solid and delusional, mix with styles and freedom of exceptions, can you feel it? This show is about showing the next path in grieving, to next set of letting the waves flows and finding your light and accepting the dark, as you find You.