Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I mean, growing up in Vallejo, CA. I always enjoyed finger painting as a child, but it wasn’t like I was a natural born Picasso or anything (at least I don’t think I was). I first discovered my creative talent as a Junior in high school. I had to choose a class elective. My options being Spanish and Basic art for beginners. I recall a few friends of mine failing Spanish and figured A R T would be more interesting. So art it was.
All assignments that were given seem to come so naturally without any effort. I started off by using color pencils and charcoal. Next was oil and chalk pastels. Then my last year as a Senior, I finally learned to work with acrylic paints. In college, I enrolled in abstract art. It allowed me to think outside the box and emotionally express myself through colors and shapes. Next, I took Still life/ Figur drawing. That class taught me how to not be so precise. To become more fluent and allow the mess to create itself.
As a visual artist, I am able to create anything I see, but not so much from imagination. This class allowed me to open other parts of the mind that I didn’t know could be unlocked. The last class I recall taking, shortly before dropping out, was Art History. Not so much fun, as we were learning about the history of art, rather than creating it ourselves. Uneducated and unaware of my artistic career path, I fell into the medical field. Trying not to allow my creative flow from slowly fading, I became an intern at a local tattoo shop, training to become a tattoo artist myself. But in 2011, I was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer and was no longer able to work at my hospital job nor the tattoo shop. With only disability to live off of, I began creating again. Selling my art as a side hustle. Undergoing chemotherapy for 5 hrs a day/ 4 days a week, I began to use art as my therapy. No one in the world could possibly know what I was going through. So I used paint as my words & the canvas as my paper to express myself.
Three long years later, I finally defeated ovarian cancer and decided to not waste any more time, as I got a second chance in life. So I got up and moved to Los Angeles in pursuit to start a new life. One that I am more passionate about. Anything allowing me to create. After moving to LA, I was casted for a TV show called Skin Wars but didn’t have much experience with body painting or makeup, so I enrolled into Elegance international school of makeup to learn how to do special effects & theater makeup. As well as body paint and character creation, bald caps, airbrush and other artistic techniques that would later allow me to assist on set with music videos and local LA fashion shows. There is no other way but up for me as I now continue this journey called life and all its excitement.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer is what got me back into creating. If I were never diagnosed, I would probably still be back at home, living the same life, working at the same hospital and doing the same things that I did everyday. After being diagnosed, it made me look at life much differently. It showed me how much of life I WASN’T living and missing out on. So the road has been a beautiful struggle.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about you’re your work?
I mostly do custom acrylic/ mixed media painting. I love mixing colors and just going crazy. SPLATTER EVERYWHERE! I love using metallics and incorporate real objects to five my pieces a more 3D effect. If I’m creating for others, I just need a description of the vibe or feel they’re going for. As for if I’m creating for myself, it’s only for emotional release or a message I am trying to deliver. They are more passionate and sexual, or can also be disturbing.
What matters most to you?
Peace & happiness. Because we would all go crazy without it. (If we haven’t already).
Contact Info:
- Email: Eboneymerriman@gmail.com
- Instagram: Artistically_beasty
- Facebook: eboney merriman
- SoundCloud: just_eboney
