My Name
Ten years ago, I transformed my childhood nickname into a one of a kind artist alias. I took what makes me unique and turned it into my greatest strength. My pale skin filled with transparent layers showing rainbows of colors and oddly dark lips became an honor to naturally hold. My name “Snow” marked the distinct transition I went through long ago, into who I was meant to be for the rest of my life as an artist and individual.
I am grateful to live in a state of constant internal peace in regard to my individuality. To become your true self without looking to anyone else for a name, is the greatest gift. Our identity lays the foundation for the entirety of our lives and it is a critical component in our ability to feel true happiness and peace in ourselves and the steps that we take along the way. It is so easy with such high levels of consumption to be lost in everything we are virtually digesting. I am lucky to have found myself before the social media storm became what it is. Growing into who you are, the person you are before outside influence, is an indescribable feeling.
If you spend too long trying to be something you’re not or following someone else, you can lose sight and forget who you actually are. And there is no greater loss within a soul. If I had spent my life pretending to be someone else, followed in someone else’s footsteps, or became a shadow by using someone else’s original name, I would’ve never been me. The person that others enjoy and love for who I am. Simply, Snow.
The painter who can make paint out of any bizarre material. The not-seriously-funny-but-silly-funny weirdo. The young girl who decided she didn’t need to be sun kissed tan or follow what was likable, welcoming and loving her “vampire” skin adorned with her classic red lipstick and eclectic vintage style. The person who refused to make art by a rigid classical standard, and devoted time to creating something completely new. From such a young age I knew exactly who I was and that is something I’m grateful for. It gave me the ability to focus so much attention on my art practice and gave me a head start in developing a statement and process that I was deeply connected to. I spent less time focused on how I was perceived and more time in front of the canvas, brush and painting knife in hand. All of those years are documented in my paintings. These magical pieces of other worlds conjured in my mind, shared with others viewing eyes and imaginations, creating doors connecting them all to our present bodies, pasts, our dreams, and our subconscious. I remember where I was when I painted every single painting I have created. The smells, sounds, and colors in the environment surrounding me. The bond I have with my art is unbreakable and would have never made it to this point without the anchor of self and release of any need to be perceived, be like someone else, or be interesting to anyone. I just wanted my art to be interesting to others. If you take away what I look like, how I dress, etc, what’s left? What I do best. That’s what I wanted the focus to be on, the thing that’ll never fade, not even in the clutches of time.
Its also important to note that I also love my birth name and never ran from it or felt ashamed of it. It’s beautiful in an entirely different way. From a young age I felt connected to my nickname and it grew roots in every part of me. I never had to ask or wish to be called Snow, it was just natural for my loved ones and myself. Because the name was given to me based on who I am and my pale skin. It was always just me, an extension of my younger self. I’m still the same person, just much more “me” than I ever was before. My birth name and Snow are synonymous. Two key parts to becoming who I now am.
I am so thankful to be someone that can have a positive impact on others through who I am and my art. To have created something at such a young age that despite imitation, can never exist anywhere else other than inside of me, is the sweetest thing I’ve ever known. I am the first, the last, the blueprint. From the halls of LVPA, to the end of time. Cheers to almost thirteen years of Snow.
I am joyful in knowing that I will leave behind a legacy of love, empathy, compassion, honesty, genuine authenticity, originality, a body of artwork I put my soul into, and countless years of hard work to be the best me possible. A well earned fruit of the tree of my life that will exist eternally in my physical absence. I dream to be remembered for my giant sappy sweet pudding heart and dreamlike artwork that transports people to another dimension in their minds. My craft was magnetized by the love gifted to me by those who supported, cared for, and loved me as I continued to grow into a stronger and wiser version of myself.
I am looking forward to the challenges and moments of transformation that will bring me to the next steps in becoming a better human and artist. In life and on the canvas, there is always work to be done, experiments to be had, and knowledge to be obtained. Art is never truly finished, as are we, as is life.
