About The Artist

Understanding Me a Little Better

For a large part of my life, I have found myself dealing with difficult emotions and trapped inside my head without an escape. Whenever I went to something hoping that I could allow my emotions to pour out, I was met with judgment and despair. Having my sketchbook was my diary when words weren't enough.

However, art hasn't always been my outlet. So many times, I pushed it away and tried to find other hobbies that would allow me to be myself. I have always been searching for a way to be myself. With the tribulations that life has thrown at me, I have struggled immensely with putting together all the pieces to discover who "Ayanna" truly is.

Growing up, everyone wanted to tell me who I was. People painted their expectations on me and told me who I was supposed to become. I was never happy with the images they had set for me. I didn't want to be the professional athlete or the full time art student. I also didn't want to be like the hurtful people around me or simply unhappy for the rest of my life. I just wanted to create and have fun.

That's when I realized that I am a creator. I create art, I create shot opportunities in basketball, I create fun things with LEGOs, I create fun: I like to take things and make them new. I love to embrace my inner child and engage in life's adventures to make them pleasurable. I like to help people understand each other. I like to go big or go home and make things exciting. I try to do this in all I do but art is where it shines the most.

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I believe that creation is the way we as humans keep the world revolving in a positive direction. Alongside with that thought, I believe if we aren't creating, then we are destroying. That isn't to say that everyone must create a movie or a piece of art or else they're causing harm in this world: art is simply one form of creating. We can create in writing, sports, learning, teaching, singing, dancing, construction, architecture, math- creation is infinite. I think that we were put on this world to create something but we all have to figure out what that is.

I also believe that creation illustrates one's perspective. When we put our creations out there and share it with another, someone gets the chance to see the world in a way that only the creator can see. We are all masters of our own perspective and the best way to be understood is to share our perspectives with others. I think this is our best shot at spreading empathy in this world- something that is desperately needed in our world, now and forever.

My art is an attempt to be better understood, spread empathy, and to share my perspective to others. When I feel like my words simply can't persuade another to listen, I use my hands and create it.

With that in mind, welcome to my perspective. I hope you enjoy my creations. 😊