Art & Life with Candice Banks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Banks.

Candice, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I remember selling my drawings as early as five years old. I couldn’t remember a time where a sketch pad and some crayons weren’t near me. My fined skill didn’t develop until I decided to attempt to draw Finnish rock singer, Ville Valo. I was obsessed with him, and he was the only face I could bear to stare at for hours while I practiced drawing him. It took me a few years, but I got really good. My portrait drawings were dark in subject and made with charcoal. I joined an art class in high school where I developed a portfolio of works that were later destroyed by my mother after a fight. Everything I had worked for from 14-18 years old was destroyed. I was so broken down I left art alone for years until I transferred to ASU downtown at 21. I was inspired again by all the greats around me plastered on walls everywhere I turned — Lalo, Breeze, JB, Tato, Everybody. I wanted to be apart of it Of them. I promised myself in 2016 that I would begin to produce art again and that this time I wouldn’t stop no matter what. I shock myself every time I finish a painting. I’m amazed at what I can do and at my personal growth as an artist. I don’t consider my art to be perfect. What I consider perfect is progression. Every piece has to be greater than the last. The only person I compete with is myself.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
These days I produce pop art paintings and illustrations. The main subjects of my art are women with tears in their eyes. These aren’t ordinary women. These are sad and sexy POP dolls. My girls have a smitten expression that offsets their tears. The girls could be shocked, angry, sad, or have a sexy look to them. At first glance, it only seems trendy but combing bright colors, sexy girls, and tears I can depict apart of me that I don’t want people to see. My art is about my journey with mental health. It’s about me seeing the universe in such a colorful way while mentally fighting a harsh reality full of depression and anxiety. I like to isolate myself for days while I create. I need to be left in my own space in order for me to either come up with ideas or fix what I don’t like about what I’m working on. I predict my art will become more positive in nature the more I work on my own personal development

How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
As an artist, success to me is achieving what you thought you weren’t capable of doing. One must be resilient in order to redo work they aren’t satisfied with. It took me about three years to draw a nose without thinking and even more to draw lips. Practice does make perfect. I believe anyone can learn how to draw. You just got to believe in your art when it isn’t perfect.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I post my work on my Instagram only at instagram.com/MDMAQ. People can support me by sharing and tagging my art on different platforms.

Contact Info:

• Email: mdmaqart@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/MDMAQ

Image Credit:
Candice Banks

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