Artist

Paxton .

Artist bio

Paxton is a surreal Salvadoran artist who believes in working on captivating and well-founded art with the aim of raising awareness on the subject of mental health. Each work seeks to interpret different disorders and aspects that come with them and become a tool for those who go through these but do not know how to express themselves, to be a graphic map for those who have never experienced it and provoke a sense of empathy and understanding to the spectator. The artist does not seek to filter, but to expose the raw and the beautiful of being different, let those who experience it realize that they are not alone, that God is not mistaken and that by accepting ourselves we can come to love ourselves completely. Paxton is creative, responsive, and not afraid to take risks, as a result, this surrealist artist is a creator, a curator, and whatever else it takes to spread the message of self love and self worth.

Title

The Tide

Medium/Genre

Painting

Artist Statement

No matter how out of control it might feel, it doesn't mean you're powerless. It's true some things can't be cured but if you let go of the fear and accept and engage with your reality you might find your mental state less overwhelming. Just like the tide, we can't control it and if we focus on something out of our reach we'll get worn out easily. Instead, learn how the tide works and act accordingly, focus on what you can change. Dive into it, educate yourself, be in peace with the facts, know your triggers, your negatives and your positives. Learn from yesterday and live for today. If you can’t run then walk, if you cannot walk then crawl. Baby steps are also courageous. Life is about falling and getting back up and as you stumble between poles you have to acknowledge you'll be falling in the future and it’s up to you to get back up. There'll be hard times for sure but even it if feels like you’ve failed remember this episode won’t last forever. Bless your disorder and every hardship you’ve experienced. It made you grow, it made you strong, empathic and capable. Once you've meticulously mapped your mental tide, suit up with medication so you'll be able to appreciate when it's low and take deep breaths between the endless possibilities and be able to find the beauty where you once felt like drowning. It'll take a few times to master your own road but would you be this strong if it wasn’t for your beautiful chemical mess?

How it fits into contest

Paxton is a surreal artist who believes in working on captivating and well-founded art with the aim of raising awareness on the subject of mental health. Each work seeks to interpret different disorders and aspects that come with them and become a tool for those who go through these but do not know how to express themselves, to be a graphic map for those who have never experienced it and provoke a sense of empathy and understanding to the spectator. The artist does not seek to filter, but to expose the raw and the beautiful of being different, let those who experience it realize that they are not alone, that God is not mistaken and that by accepting ourselves we can come to love ourselves completely.

This piece, as stated in Ephesians 6:10-20, is a representation of the struggle I experience with mental health, specifically Bipolar Disorder. Even though as a human it may get the best of me, I stay strong in my faith and trust God's will and purposes. As I learn the nature of my own tide I put on the full armor of God , so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground fully equipped. With this in mind, I always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people who's struggle is the same as mine.

Life is about falling and getting back up. Trust that God is in control of all that is good and that he allows the bad for us to learn and grow. God does not set challenges that we cannot bear. You have to know that we are all different and we learn differently. That there are people who learn the easy way and others like me who learn the hard way. Now that I look back I can understand that I had to lose to value what I have, that I had to fall to learn to get up and now I am grateful for the rocky path that I have crossed because it molded me to the person I am now.

Thank you Father for your teachings, your love and patience. I bless the difficulties that you have sent me because now they become a testimony of your greatness and I leave my future in your hands. May people find comfort and love within the talent you've poured me with.

Credits

YHWH

How to Purchase this Artwork

Prints of this artwork are available. Contact paxtonsays@gmail.com if interested

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