C WEST (b. 1997) is a singer-songwriter and abstract artist born and raised in Buffalo, NY now residing and painting out of his small garage in Atlanta, GA. C WEST was an art and vocal major at both the Buffalo Academy for Visual & Performing arts and Villa Marie College. C WEST hopes that wherever his art dwells, it brings hope and healing to those who encounter it.
How did you get into art?
I have always loved art. It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember! When I was 13 years old, I remember having sketch books filled with drawings of my favorite superheroes and cartoon characters. I listened to a ton of Michael Jackson, so I loved to draw portraits of him as well. Music and art have always been a way of escape for me. Away from the pain, away from the worries, and away from the stress. It truly helped me to take my mind off the things that weighed me down.
How would you describe your style? What makes your work special?
My art is my heart on the canvas. My work is a visual diary that reveals what I believe lies beneath the surface of every individual. A child longing to be seen, heard, and loved. Whether we want to admit it or not, we all have brokenness, we all have pain, and we all long to be seen, heard, and loved by someone. And my hope is that wherever my art dwells, it brings hope and healing to those who encounter it. My color choices are random yet calculated. My compositions are never planned, but I am always aware of where I’m headed. As I journey to create a new piece, the tools I use and the colors I choose are always changing. But on this bumpy road, the destination remains the same. It all leads to healing. Each piece creates a visual narrative that invites viewers to share in the beauty and chaos of my inner world where I discover new layers of God’s love for me, encouraging them to uncover how deeply loved by God they are as well.
How do you go about developing your work?
My work is very spontaneous, so it never starts the same. Some pieces begin with paint while others begin with oil sticks. I step into my studio, say a prayer, and I allow my heart to explode onto the canvas. The composition can be assumed but I love the journey of not knowing what’s next. I like to think of my work as a beautiful mess.
Who or what influences you?
My work is greatly influenced by the things that I’ve gone through and my relationship with God. Growing up without my biological father took a huge toll on me. My music and art have been my visual diary of that pain for a long time now. Although my art reflects the pain that I’ve experienced, it also reveals the healing that I’ve received throughout my life.
Make us curious. What are you planning to do next?
I am currently working on my first collection and will be planning my very first solo exhibition soon. One of my hopes this year is to be represented by a gallery, so I am looking forward to that as well.
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