Century House Art

Although pencil is my favorite medium, I also paint in acrylic and enjoy mixing chalk, pastel, charcoal and colored pencil. Earlier projects have been often focused on social issues, one such series highlighted womens' relationships with food and eating. Another, mens' relationships with their emotions and bodies. In recent years, more of my work has been inspired by the subconscious, collective unconscious, or as it is often referred to, "the void." An important process for me, both in art and life, is exploring the flexible nature of reality. Attempting to experience the limitless possibility of existence rather than to perceive it through what we've been taught reality is. Much of my work in the void stems from profound personal losses, betrayal and trauma, along with many years working closely with hospice patients. With end-of-life care, the veil between realms is palpably thin and if you're aware at all, you will witness how fluid it truly is. I've heard it said that if you have access to chaos, chaos has access to you, and so emotional intensity has found its place in much of my art. As I'm self taught my technical understanding may be lacking, but in my heart I believe in art firstly and foremost as a language. It is a communication system that evokes something ancient within us, as there are certain places in mind, body and spirit, that words can't reach, but art can. Welcome to the darker side. I hope these pieces help to illuminate your path as much as creating them did for me. -Nef