Dark Waters was created as part of the Live artist competition. Please visit the auction homepage to see the video of this piece coming to life. Please also visit the 9th Annual Art + Advocacy Facebook event page to vote. https://fb.me/e/PMZJB2EI

Acrylic on canvas

Dimensions: 24x24

Artist: Gessica Garber

GG Inspirations | Facebook

Born and raised in Northern Indiana, Gessica Garber, never knew the artist that lived inside her. She always identified as an athlete, but never an artist. In fact, she was terrified to paint up until recent years. After graduating from The University of Notre Dame, where she played softball and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in both Psychology and Graphic Design, she continued her softball career as a collegiate coach for a few short years. She then began to realize her talent to express herself on the canvas. It was a much needed outlet after ending her softball career. Her inspiration and call to paint came from observing an artist paint during a live message. Her heart was captivated by the ability to tell a story with no words at all. In the beginning, she was still afraid to mess up the canvas. Timidly painting and only half satisfied with her work. It was during her move to Midland that truly inspired the artist to come out. She was encouraged by friends to just paint and let go. Her inspiration comes from everywhere: colors, textures, feelings, live circumstances, she attempts to capture it all through the process. Nearly every time she begins to paint, the process goes something like this: first a fear to start, not wanting to mess up the already perfect white canvas. Next, just start and get color on the canvas, mapping out shapes and space. Often, this stage is messy, chaotic and involves finger/hand painting. Nearly always, the stuck stage. It seems every time she paints there is a moment where she feels she has ruin the canvas or pushed something a little too far creating more chaos than necessary. Last, a prayer and a pause, asking God to create with her, she then finishes the piece at peace. Taking a breath out and smiling because the process was necessary. Recently, in the last few years, Gessica has focused on challenging herself: blending more colors, playing around with different painting tools (palette knives), painting with unconventional tools (plastic paper, fingers/hands, cloth, rubber spatulas) to create different types of texture and movement. 

Currently, Gessica has honed in on her business GG Inspirations (to be found via Facebook) where she teaches private classes, private lessons. She enjoys making artwork for her home and collaborating to create commissioned pieces for others homes. She also volunteers her time teaching a prayer and paint class. These classes truly allow the painter to have a spiritual experience with the paint and canvas. The hope is that by participating you would know and see more of who God really is as you create and be inspired by hope for the future.