Hello my name is Christen Wheat and I am an inspiring artist. With my work I mainly stick the 3D side of the art world. I love to work with my hands and to be able to sculpt or build my work.
In the Beginning…
As long as I can remember I have always been interested in art and the ability to make new creations with my hands. I would color in coloring books, paint childish pictures and make ornaments from scratch. Though my artworks looked childish and crazy my parents would always love them and encouraged me to continue honing my artistic skills. I know that without the full support of my parents I don’t believe that my imagination and my love for art would be like it is today.
Inspiration and Imagination
They are many places that I look for stimulus and inspiration when it comes to creating an art piece. I would have to say that my main source is my own life experiences and my internal struggles. I was diagnosed with Asperger’s at a young age (AutismSpeaks), so I like to show through my art work the struggles I have endured and still do to this day.
I am also very religious, so I like to use symbolism and Christian themes when it comes to some of my work, as well. I find that if my work doesn’t show some aspect of my own life than it is not really an art piece that I put my all into. So I lately I have been putting much more meaning behind my work whether it be the material that I am using or the colors that I have chosen.
My Personal “Greats”
I have looked at many different artist and their works but only a few of them have actually inspired me and that it shows through some of my pieces. The two images above show that I am a fan of Keith Haring. I love the way that he uses simple forms and shapes to show some solemn subjects. I did a set of seven different ceramic scenes that comically depict what I think of when I hear the common Christian term “the seven deadly sins”.
Now when it comes to classical artist most of my love goes to Auguste Rodin and his amazing bronze cast pieces. Though I don’t have any pieces of my art artworks that really show my love for his work, I still consider him one of the artist that inspire me. The way that he is able to portray pain and emotions through the bronze sculptures gives me chills.
The One and Only Kansas City (Missouri)
Having grown up in a bigger city I was lucky enough to have been able to experience and lived in a city full of art and artists. My high school art classes would also go on a field trip to the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and at the time I took it for granted. It wasn’t until I came to Pittsburg that I realized how lucky I was to grow up where I did. Kansas City is full of art and inspiration while, in my own opinion, Pittsburg doesn’t have much. I am one of those view people you can actually say that they would be happy to live where they grew up.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art with downtown Kansas City, Missouri, on horizon.
Photo taken with Canon S70 camera
June 10, 2008
Worlds of Fun + Summer = Art
For the last five years I have had a summer job working at Worlds of Fun. Though technically I didn’t work of Worlds of Fun but an art company called Kaman’s Art Shoppes. They’re a company that goes into Amusement Parks and does are the artsy stuff for them. For example Caricatures, face paint, henna tattoos, candy makers, photos, etc. I work in the Airbrush booth at Worlds of Fun, right next to the new ride The Steel Hawk. It is a wonderful job that allows me to be paid to create art. Though the downside is it can get pretty hot and it’s still a retail job so you get some pretty wacky customers. Either way is has made me more versatile in my art mediums and has open new doors for me
The End
Though my artwork can sometimes be out there and may take a moment to understand, I always put my all into the pieces and always make sure you walk away asking questions about both my sculptures and your own life.
Credits:
Pictures
- Nelson-Atkins Museum. Digital image. Small-Format Aerial Photography : The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Ar. Academic.emporia, 27 June 2008. Web. 29 Jan. 2016.
- All other photos were taken by myself or family members that I have given me permission to use the photos.
Links
- Autism Speaks Website: https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/asperger-syndrome [ retrieved January 2016]
- Kieth Haring Website: http://www.haring.com/ [ retrieved January 2016]
- Auguste Rodin Website: http://www.biography.com/people/auguste-rodin-9461735#death-and-legacy [ retrieved January 2016]
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum Website: http://www.nelson-atkins.org/ [ retrieved January 2016]
- Kaman’s Art Shoppes Website: http://www.kamansart.com/ [ retrieved January 2016]
chris10wheat 
One thought on “Writing (blog posts)_1”