Stefanie Sylvester

Art is a nonverbal vocabulary that allows me to discover thoughts and emotions I can't access in other ways. I usually start my artmaking having no idea what's about to be created. To get me started with observational drawing, I'll pick a place to set up shop, then look around until something catches my eye. For my collages, I scatter clippings from coloring books across the page, then explore connections between the lines and marks as I build layers of collage and paint. Both of these processes get me into a state of flow, where my constant internal monologue is quieted and expression of emotion and curiosity of markmaking guides the work. It is a transition from my monkey brain into a more primal space. I tend to think of the finished art pieces as outcomes of a meditative practice rather than an artistic practice.