Illustrator and variety staffer Antonio Starks’ emotions and mental health are depicted in an illustration. Starks has used his art to unpack his emotions and experiences in a healthy way. Illustration by Antonio Starks
Art has been foundational for illustrator and Viewpoints staffer Antonio Starks, who uses visual art to reflect on aspects of his character and emotions.
Visual art in its many incarnations has affected my life and my overall growth as a person. As a child, I went to the Georgia Museum of Art and saw paintings and sculptures, filled with different colors, different shapes and different personalities. It showed me the beauty in most things, a lesson I’ve taken with me from that moment moving forward.
Art allows me to have an aspect of control over myself and it allows for intense moments of introspection for me. Sometimes I can spiral and get paralyzed by the world and my emotions,but my art grounds me. I can reflect on why I drew something and what that represents within my life. It shows how the world affects me and allows me to have some control in processing information.
Creating art is a part of me that is inseparable from my being as a whole.
My exposure to art from a young age has led to an intrinsic and ethereal bond between my very being and my creations. As if my art is a person, it watches and nurtures me, mimicking my every move and giving me the comfort to continue on my path.
