My Art Work; MadMade Print Fair
UDPATE: I have some news – As I wrote about below, I entered my art work for the MadMade Print Fair. I recently learned that I was accepted; you will be able to see my art and the artwork of other artists living with psychiatric conditions and mental health conditions. This disability-affirming event is free to the community and is on November 14 (Saturday) from 12-4:30 at Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago. Visitors are encouraged to explore and buy art work from from printmakers, illustrators, designers, and zine makers working across screenprinting, linocut, risograph, etching, digital processes, and more. Read more about it HERE.
Original Blog Post Below; Art Work I Entered
Hello, below I am sharing some of my paintings through the years. I am applying to showcase prints of these watercolor paintings at the MadMade Print Fair, which is held on November 14. To quote the organizers, “MadMade is a one-day, community-centered event designed to celebrate, support, and showcase the creative work of artists living with psychiatric disabilities and mental health challenges. This is not just another craft fair—it’s a space built on inclusion, care, and cultural empowerment.” Learn more about the event here.
Title: Even If. This painting was made during a time of grief and great stress. It’s literally and figuratively about light breaking the darkness. The friend who inspired me, I put her initials in the rocks. I was inspired by her faith.
Title: Happy. Watercolor. Two of my favorite subjects are water and the sun, especially sunrises.
Title: Sedaris’s Flower. Medium: Watercolor.
Title: Starburst. Medium: Watercolor.
Title: Northern Lights. Medium: Watercolor.
I have always loved astronomy. In a time of searching and grief, I started painting the cosmos. I started with the Northern Lights. I came to peace with the reality that there were certain things I would not find the answers for here on earth. I don’t know that I found ‘closure’ but I did find some measure of peace with art, grief support groups led by mental health professionals, and time. Due to the myasthenia gravis, my hand slipped when I was making this painting. Hence, the left side being too short. Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular autoimmune condition that where the person loses control of their muscles sporadically and it can’t be controlled.
Title: Divine Kiss. Medium: Watercolor.
This is a mountain range in the winter; you can see the snowcapped mountains. On the left is the Northern Lights. On the far right is an air glow. The combination of it creates this rainbow effect which is accidental. airglow is a faint, continuous emission of light caused by chemical reactions and solar radiations.
Title: Aurora Twilight. Medium: Watercolor.
For those new to my blog, I have periodically shared some of my art work. I did a video on my YouTube channel about what art means to my mental health here:
You can subscribe to my YouTube channel to get more videos on mental health and chronic health HERE.
–Jessica aka Fashionably ill ®
