Christina Does Portraits 2.44

Graduating from the University of Ulster as a Fine Artist was a daunting experience. I no longer had my comfort blanket that was my little corner in my studio tucked away in the old building at my University. I was now out in the open, exposed and not quiet sure, at 23 years young, what do to in my life. Sure, having my degree was an amazing achievement and those 4 years were the best of times ,with having met the most interesting people and had the chance to live in Croatia as an Art student, but the thought of being an artist didn't interest me in the slightest, in fact it was the last thing I wanted to do. So I moved to England, spent some time there to think about my next step until I eventually moved back to Belfast, Ireland. It took a year there working in retail and doing some bits of drawing in my spare time until I realised that I had bigger plans. So with my tickets to New Zealand and passport in tow I headed off not knowing what was ahead. It was there, with my job as an Au Pair, that I received the encouragement and then the new love for drawing. I sold many many pieces that year and enjoyed every minute of it. Knowing that my art works hangs in homes in NZ is such a thrill and a great sense of achievement for me.
Travelling and making Art is what I am meant to do. After that amazing year, I still wasn't ready to go home so I set myself some new challenges, 2 being to learn French and to drive on the right hand side of the road. So off I went to Luxembourg. As I concentrated on those challenges and fitting into a new country, meeting new people and getting on with my new job, my passion for drawing suddenly took a back seat.
It wasn't until I met a certain person that encouraged and inspired me to want more, build something that I can be proud of, know that I can actually travel and have a job at the same time, etc that I finally started to make the jump and pursue this full time.
Its a long process, I am learning along the way but I'm enjoying all the learning curves, good and bad!
Its funny how we as people are constantly evolving and I truly believe that my determination to want more and my travelling experiences, meeting the people I have met has changed my perception and now I would love to be an artist. Some one who creates art, inspires others, challenging and putting themselves out there constantly is a dream career for me.

Throughout my university years it was a battle of finding yourself, your style and keeping with the work load. A struggle every art student finds. I remember thinking I couldn't wait to finish so I would finally know what my 'style' was, what my 'thing' would be, however what I actually found out was that its a never ending process and ever evolving. Artists grow, their artwork grows with them so I hope with through my different forms of social media that you, the audience, can experience this also.
So far, my style has consisted of portraits of many different familiar faces. I have a specific style I find, usually front facing, up close, black and white, usually male. In realising this I wanted to expand, because if you don't try you don't know! Thus the start of my 'illustrations' and a new love for a new medium; watercolours. So far I am really enjoying this process, as its fun to use more colour and challenge myself as trying to capture someone is easier through my portraits that it is in the illustrations. But its a work in progress.
I hope you enjoy following my page, through its evolving and changes and posting!
Christina