Estelle Skerik

Artist Statement

Currently, I am a junior in high school participating in AP Studio Art. I always have loved creating art and I am fortunate to be able to make pieces that I put time and energy in to express my feelings. This year, I have decided to take a deep dive into my own metal health and explore how can butterflies be used as a repeated motif to represent anxiety. In this sustained investigation, I explore how the movement and symbolism of butterflies can be used to show hard to explain emotions. By focusing on specific feelings, like being overwhelmed, nervousness, and the tension that comes with anxiety, I used butterflies as a way to visually connect the two ideas to make metaphorical pieces. I developed my pieces through continued studies of both the anatomy of butterflies and personal emotions of anxiety, which was created along with experimentation and constant revision. I experimented with different sizes, materials, and details of butterflies to accurately depict anxiety, while also revising my work by adjusting compositions. Over the time spent, my use of the butterfly motif became increasingly more expressive.