Reflecting: MFA Thesis - Painting & Drawing

Abstract

As my work addresses my history of chronic illness and how it led to me becoming an athlete, I am also exploring the depictions of chronic illness in art. I look at other artists who suffer from illness and how they represent or depict their illness in their work. Every experience with a chronic illness is unique to the individual. Some painters are impacted in ways that affect how they can create work, and others are influenced in subject matter or representation. I am using my time in grad school to not only become a fast swimmer, but to learn what it means to be an athlete. I am also unraveling my intricate journey through severe illness and how this history has impacted my painting practice, both in subject matter and the way in which I paint.