Tessa Clawson lives in Graeagle, California. Her current focus is on self-portraiture, but she also draws little dog comics. She focuses on her own experiences in life and how they affect her. Tessa’s latest work comments upon gender exploration and the relationship with her partner. Major themes in her work include gender and sense of self.
My paintings discuss the expression of sexuality, gender expression, and coping with depression. I explore different styles and portrayals of myself. Peeling back layers of who I am, allowing a better understanding of myself. My work identifies with people who have a shared experience or experiences. The work is created for me to expose myself, to vent, and to allow self-expression.
My works shift from gender play to the emotional turmoil that surrounds it. Pieces comment upon my struggle with gender identity and sexuality. I have always allowed self-exploration, and as the years have passed there has been new ponderings. There is a departure from womanhood and that identity, a strong questioning that keeps me up at night. This is why my art has shifted so drastically in the last couple of years. While I thought I had an understanding of who I was, it was suddenly challenged. Each piece either focused on gender, or the façade I veil myself behind.
Watercolor paints, copic markers, posca paint pens, acrylic paint, and ink add layers that create vivid imagery. These materials create a bold and striking use of color that exaggerates the figures. The colors used are often straight from the pan, creating a surreal color palette.
The use of self-portraiture acts as an autobiographical form of storytelling. My pieces depict an alternate version of myself, a version that can explore without boundaries. There is a continuation of the exploration of my own gender, the roles that come with that, and how I ultimately express that. As I continue with expressing myself, I am able further develop my art practice.