A zine questionnaire i answered

Recently someone sent out a call for artists to answer some questions for a zine she was publishing. here is the question i answered. It is such a reflection of who i am that i felt the need to share it.


1. Some artists say they do their art because they
must; especially at times of transition and stress,
finding comfort and a sort of grounding in art
making. Have you found this to be true in your life?

I have always done some sort of art ever since i was a little girl. I've never had any formal training, it is all things that i have taught myself. It is only recently that i have begun taking classes, in altered arts. i like the "unstructuredness" of it all. there aren't many rules and you can insert your own creativity as you go along.

I feel the need to be constantly creating. i've been like that forever. There is something satisfying about creating something and in turn, giving it as a gift or even selling it. It is an amazing compliment when people want to buy my things. I think without the "formalized" training, it is hard to think of myself as artist; so the act of them wanting to buy my work makes me feel great!

I feel very grounded when i am creating. If i go for a few hours without working on something, i actually feel a little edgy. My art is a stress reliever. I have an older son who is severely disabled; a result of medical malpractice. He was born healthy and normal. He was the sweetest little baby and gave me so much joy. all that changed when he suffered a brain injury at 16 months old. He is now 17 years old. So i have poured my grief, sadness, stress, sorrow, pain, etc. into art. The experience left me with a broken heart and a never ending well of grief. The void has to be filled somewhere. That emptiness needs to be addressed - so i create.

I can literally spend hours creating. I lose myself and time when i am in my studio. it is my own little world. It helps me feel whole again.

kecia deveney
Wall, NJ