Stacey Bradford - Profile

Artist Statement

rely on my intuition to make decisions. I do art because it relaxes me and when I do art I lose track of time. Art is spontaneous it is an exploration and it makes me feel comfortable. It is where I learn, find, and achieve new things about myself. My aspirations are to be an artist and art educator.
I have always been creative, but my study of art began with digital art. I wanted to pursue digital media. Eastern Wyoming College provided an opportunity to do web design. I decided to take more art classes. I started to enjoy myself.
I enjoy the opportunity to break rules. I appreciate the challenge. My influence is Phillip Guston. He is my favorite artist because he pushes the envelope. He quit listening to those that told him how to create art and for who. He changed the philosophy of art.
Art is physical and my hand does the work for me. It creates the art work and I just embellish it and make it pop. The techniques I use are to let the work flow like a river and wherever the river takes me it is how the art work is established. I like to work inside out like the guts of a fish till the final detail of putting the eye on the fish. As for themes I base it on what intrigues me the most.
My favorite tool is the back of the paintbrush because I like scratching paint or ink into the art piece. I like the scratching because it is a search for something inside me and as I scratch it I become more involved in the art piece. My favorite material is oil paint and the reason simply is that I enjoy getting messy and the colors it creates. I enjoy oil paint because I enjoy watching it drip down a canvas and love making new marks with the paintbrush. I like to push the boundaries because they are endless.
Death is symbolic in my story. It posts a question: can you run and hide from yourself?