KATIEDALE

Over the years, I have created many different art pieces using a variety of media My primary focus is drawing and illustration I am inspired by artists such as Junji Ito, Bryan Charnley, and Jamie Hewlett Using my own semi-realistic, cartoon-ish style, I am able to exaggerate facial expressions in order to convey very intense emotions My art often depicts mental health struggles that I have faced and still struggle with in my life I make art as a way to express my emotions I am typically reserved and closed off when it comes to being vulnerable around others and I often don’t want anyone to think there is anything wrong with me I sometimes feel emotions heavier than the average person due to some of my mental disorders I get overwhelmed quite easily, but I put up a strong front By putting my thoughts and feelings into my art, I am able to say what I never do As they say, “one picture is worth a thousand words ” Art is like a form of therapy to me and is very cathartic I love being able to create and base my work off of my own life experiences I can only hope that the art I create is able to speak to others on a similar level I use art as a tool not only to express myself, but to show that no one is alone in feeling these particular emotions or going through trauma alone. Ever since high school, I have been creating art about my personal life struggles in order to destigmatize the conversations around hard topics such as mental illness and/or traumatic events.