V. H. King's Ink

Someone recently asked me what other mediums I engage in, when it comes to my art and creative endeavors. I hadn’t thought of this in a long while, because very few people have shown an interest in my art. I took the opportunity to think it over, though.

How would I describe my art style? What am I trying to accomplish?

I do original artwork for my writing, usually with marker on paper.  These art pieces are easier to talk about, because they’re directly related to a story. For example, I love creating maps for the setting of both my contemporary works and the more high-fantasy worlds I scribble into existence. Glass Halos, Paper Crowns specifically features art with every section of the novel–which means 6 title sections and an epilogue. The style of those pieces features a lot of bold lines and white space. Individual objects composed on a page in earlier titles give way to landscapes and settings later on.

I also create other pieces that aren’t related to my stories.  I usually paint–on mixed media paper, watercolor paper, or canvas.  “Paint” feels like a loose term, since I use a mixture of markers, watercolors, and acrylic paints, depending on the project.  It’s probably not sophisticated by any means, but it’s certainly therapeutic!  I like using vivid/ saturated colors and exploring abstract symbolism. I’m still experimenting with my style. Mostly I just draw whatever feels like it needs to come out.  Usually those are feelings that are hard to put into words, until after I have something on the page.

My art is a tangible expression of my grief and my hope.

Of all that could be said about it, that’s the bottom line. The process of creating my art–of spending long afternoons bent over paper or canvas, mixing paint or carefully tracing outlines–is a bodily one. It comes with aches in my shoulders, my knees, my calves, my neck. It stretches through time, as summer heat stalls the day and the sun never seems to set until I blink and it is dark out. It is a wordless cinema of color. It is a wild playlist curated from seemingly clashing genres.

Pouring my heart out on the page, asking How long will this go on? and rejoicing Praise be, that I have lived to see this day!–that is what my art is.

I have plenty of artwork on my walls and stashed in an old portfolio. I have a trunk filled with old sketchbooks and notebooks. But I often feel like I have to create new art. None of what I’ve already made meets the caliber or showcases what I want to say–or so I assume. I know going back through those old sketchbooks will bring a knot to my stomach. My throat will tighten and it will be hard to breathe, for all the pain the pages hold. But I know I made each piece as a sheer war-cry.

I never know if I am promised to survive–but I know the agony and the ecstasy of being alive.

Like my writing, I did not create much of my art with the intention of sharing it. That is another reason why I’ve yet to revisit older pieces. It may be worthwhile to go through and see what can be shared. My current focus, however, is to create with the intent of sharing my voice. I can’t say exactly what that looks like, or what works will be produced. I have often committed to honesty in my writing, and in a similar vein. my art has always had a raw edge to it. There are others whose work may be more polished. There are always going to be creators whose work and style I will admire but will never come close to echoing. But there is no one else who can make the art that I can.

And so, I will make my art.