about me
I’m Aden - a queer artist living nomadically in a tiny trailer with my cat Luna while I pursue recovery from chronic illness through a mind-body approach to healing & wellness.
I work primarily with acrylic gouache paint on paper to create botanical, abstract, and nature-inspired designs that explore themes of interconnectedness and internal landscape. I often see these designs representing emotional ecosystems, and the way our internal worlds blend with the external.
These conceptual themes are inseparable from the way I experience the world through the lens of chronic illness and disability, the healing process, and what that has meant for my mind and body. My artistic process explores what it means to be human - the fragility and the resilience of our bodies in a world that is both indifferent to our existence, and the source of all we need to survive.
The aesthetic of my work, and the precise application of gouache to achieve this matte print-like effect, is a stylistic approach that emerged through the onset of chronic illness, as a way to channel my desire for control amidst uncontrollable circumstances. The flatness and graphic quality of these paintings, as well as the playful approach to scale reference my visual experience of derealization.
My work tells a story in a shared visual language - these same archetypal elements combined in different ways, creating a world that feels like a soft place to explore hard things.
about the art
My paintings are primarily done with acrylic gouache on watercolor paper.
Framing is highly recommended for all of these artworks. Because the art is on paper, it will be prone to stains, bends, or tears if not stored and framed properly.
Most pieces sized 9x12 or larger take over 20 hours to create, which is reflected in the pricing. Finished works available in the shop are priced to sell (i.e. a lower calculated hourly rate than commission pieces). To read more about my commission process & pricing, click here.
There are multiple factors that contribute to the time consuming nature of this style of work. First I create a full mock up of the composition and color palette in Procreate, then transfer the design to the final paper with transfer paper or pencil. Next the paint is applied in thin layers to achieve a flat and matte appearance. Precision and detail are highly important aspects of my work, which require a lot of patience and time. You can check out some of my process videos on TikTok or Instagram (linked at the bottom of this page) for a behind the scenes look at this.
