Where it began
Today
About Ione
From painting at the kitchen table as a toddler to studying art at Virginia Tech, I've always found my way back to creating. Art isn't just what I do—it's how I process the world.
Where it began
Today
From painting at the kitchen table as a toddler to studying art at Virginia Tech, I've always found my way back to creating. Art isn't just what I do—it's how I process the world.
I first realized that I was passionate about art when I was a toddler. I loved working crafts and painting and doing anything I could that was creative. My family really sparked my creative journey—they were always supporting my creativity and encouraging me from a young age to attend art classes to grow my skills.
When creating a new piece, I almost always start with a sketch. I often get ideas for pieces at the most random times, so I always have my sketchbook on me to quickly write something down or try to draw my idea out to the best of my abilities. I don't always immediately take my sketch to the next level, but it's great that I have a place to get my ideas out. Though I love the entire process of creating a piece, I think my favorite part is when it finally starts coming together. There is something so exciting about the feeling of "wow, that is starting to look not half bad"—and it definitely pushes me to finish a piece as quickly as possible.
I am a nostalgic person. I always have been, and I feel like this particular feeling helps me create a lot of my work. I love painting pictures that I have saved in my phone from the past. I'm also the kind of person that has trouble with change—it is often a very uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing thing for me. Being able to take these feelings and do something positive with them in my art is incredibly rewarding, and it serves as a way for me to address my feelings in a constructive way.
I decide which medium to use for certain ideas honestly based on what I think best helps me to portray the feeling I am trying to evoke or the story I am trying to tell. What I have been trying to do—and hope to continue to do—is to incorporate some of my 2D design onto a 3D object. I love both 2D and 3D work, though I'd say I have more experience with 2D artwork. I hope to improve my skills in both.
When people look at my art, I want them to feel whatever they want to feel about my piece. Whatever personal connections they have, I want them to make them. While I often have background stories or themes in my pieces, I always value personal connection and perspective—and that's what I hope people can get from my art.
Currently continuing to better my artistic abilities at Virginia Tech.