As a mixed media artist, I use both familiar and metaphoric imagery to develop narrative. Rendered as two‑dimensional totem poles, my paintings offer an expansive energy—exploring freedoms from constraints, tearing at definitions, and peeling back layers to see deeper within the story. Like an endangered species, these narratives feel fragile, easily lost in the noise of distraction. My work becomes an invitation to pause, to look again, to enter into dialogue.
My choice of paint is acrylic, and my application is a medley of well‑blended and disheveled stroke work. They move like rapids, saturating the space with emotional vibrancy. I incorporate dimensional elements such as textured papers, epoxy clay, fibers to break the 2D plane. These mixtures are not just sensory elements but conduits for intimacy, reflection, and an examination of our humanity and interconnectedness.
This same approach now extends into my collaborations with authors, where I translate their written worlds into visual portals. Whether designing book covers or story illustrations, I treat each narrative as a living totem—layered, symbolic, and charged with emotional resonance. I work to reveal the pulse beneath the plot, the hidden textures of character, the atmospheric tensions that shape a reader’s experience. My mixed‑media language becomes a bridge between text and image, welcoming readers to step into the story before the first page is even turned.
In this way, my studio practice and my illustration work share the same heartbeat: a commitment to depth, to layered meaning, and to crafting visual experiences that ignite curiosity, conversation, and connection.
Candace’s work is featured in both cover design and in children’s picture book illustrations. Learn more about her work at candi-art.com.