CHASE
What activities/art-form did you pick up as a kid that shaped you into the artist you are today? In what way do YOU think it shaped you?
“This is something I haven’t thought about in a while…I love the question. As a kid my parents pushed me to be heavily involved in all sorts of activities which I think was a big factor. One of those activities being theater which I absolutely adored it. From plays at my school or the local opera house and even theater camps, I was always involved in some form of theater. It was an essential part of me back then and was quite fundamental to my personal self-exploration. I played piano majority of my younger years which really helped me understand that you must practice to better yourself.”
“I also think about the activities I did with my mom and my grandma as a kid. My mom was always doing something creative, from hosting fabulous dinner parties to elaborately decorating for the holidays, I loved joining in on it. She used to own a home decor & flower shop which was a major inspiration to me. She had an essential role in helping me unlock my creativity.”
Were you picked on as a child? If so how? How do you think that affected your life today as an artist?
“Most definitely. As a kid there were always pieces of me that were evidently different than those around me, especially the boys around me. For a long time, I tried so hard to hide those pieces of me but that constant process of hiding who you genuinely are as a child can be so difficult. As I got older, especially in high school, I continued to express myself more and it became very evident to a lot of people around me that I was gay, which was not something most people welcomed. I’m from a very small town in North Dakota which is a heavily conservative state, so as my younger self began expressing myself more & more, a lot of my peers were not a fan of this, so I never ended up fully coming out until the summer after I graduated high school. I think struggling with this as a child & teenager though was essential for my growth & comfortability in expressing myself today. I’m very much an over-thinker but when it comes to self-expression, I’ve really accepted that the rejection of those around you doesn’t matter and to not let it get to you.”
What daily activity makes you feel most connected to your hands within your art-form ?
“Ooo this is a tough one for me. I’d say the process of getting dressed is my initial reaction. I work at a local design studio so getting dressed for my 9-5 isn’t always the most inspiring activity but those mornings I have the time to destroy my closet and style an office look that feels representative of me are the some of the days I feel most connected to my hands.”
“I don’t get to do this on the daily but those days I get to sit down and sketch out some ideas or pull materials to build a palette for a project are also times I feel most connected to both my hands and the process of creating.”
What do you appreciate most about how YOUR art makes you feel?
“I’d say those moments I get to feel that deeper sense of connection to who I am as an individual is what I appreciate most. I think it's easy at times to feel disconnected to your higher self, so those moments of connection often act as a reminder of who I authentically am.”
What pushes you to be a better artist today ?
“I think one of the most prominent things that pushes me in this regard is being consistently surrounded by others that are also creating. There are times it can be a little difficult since it's so easy for me to compare myself to others but at the end of the day to be surrounded by so many incredible individuals that are creating in any capacity is one of the most inspiring & vibrational parts of life.”
“I’d also say reminding myself of where I am today and where I used to be. As I mentioned earlier, I grew up in a very rural area that most people never end up moving away from, so looking back to see where I started and where I am now is a constant reminder to never stop trying because there’s still so much out there.”
BONUS QUESTIONS.
What is your favorite part of your body ? What is your least?
“I would say my hair currently. It's a part of my body I’ve always loved experimenting with and one part of the body you can experiment with quite easily. As a kid and teenager, I used to really struggle with body image and even back then just fucking around with my hair was a way for me to feel better with myself”
What GROUNDS you?
“The process of discovering what grounds me has been quite tricky over the years but what I’ve come to discover is that for me it’s to simply just slow down. To actually take the time to slow down is something I’ve realized can require a lot of will power, instead of continuing to rush through the day just hoping that at some point I’ll start to feel less anxious.”
“The past few months I’ve become obsessed again with yoga & hot pilates which I’m so thankful for. Simply just practicing at home or attending a class is transformative for my mental wellbeing, grounding me and reminding me that everything is going to be okay. I think just spending quality time with family and friends is huge for me…listening to what others have to say instead of just my own spiraling thoughts.”
How do you wish others describe you?
“I wish I knew my exact answer to this but honestly, I think it would just be to be described as kind by others. I used to struggle with hoping others would describe me in other ways, but I’ve come to realize none of those other ways are significant and often are driven by ego. If I died today, I know that no matter what I’d hope those around me would simply just describe me as kind. There’s not much more to life than making sure to be kind and open-minded.”
Name something gross/weird that you wouldn’t do in front of others.
“The first thing that comes to mind is eating ketchup sandwiches lol. I’ve done this in front of friends before and there's people I wouldn't be scared to do in front of now. I’m not sure what it was but I used to have this love for ketchup plain but also b/w bread.”
If you were to speak to your younger self as an artist, what would it be?
“Don’t allow fear to disrupt your ideas. Trust your decisions and abilities. The human ego is one of the biggest barriers to not creating and experimenting, so let it the fuck go and flourish boy.”
