Crissy Perez - Artist

Describe your works.
My art is about focusing on the present moment and develops kinaesthetically through the marks made on the canvas. I am interested in the workings of the brain; how the right hemisphere of the brain is about the ‘right now’, while the left brain is about analysing our experience within the context of our knowledge and experiences. The left brain creates a metaphorical lens that defines, and sometimes distorts, our own, individual take on the world.
During the creation of my work I meditate to allow me clarity of purpose. I use Zen meditation to step into the consciousness of my right brain and into the oneness of infinite, universal energy that knows no boundaries within me and out with me. Each painting can take weeks to complete and comprise of layers of paint built up to create a history of moments and a sense of infinity. I want to remove my ‘ego’ from the creative process but I do not paint while I am in a low mood because I do not want what I create to be influenced by the internal chatter of my left brain and my own lens.
However, I realize that when one views a painting it is the critical left brain that is more active causing one to see the work through one’s own, individual lens. The viewer is overwhelmed by a multitude of internal questions and comparisons such as “How was this made?”; “What did the artist feel?”; “What is this work similar to?” etc. Often the speed and number of these questions can be overwhelming. How I felt, or what I thought, during its creation is not that important. Instead, I want my paintings to be experienced more by the viewers’ right brain. I want the viewer to ignore their lens and have a purely sensory experience, to be completely at one and in the moment.
What three words describe you
Mind, consciousness and thought
 

Life story
Born in Lincolnshire. Studied at Camberwell college of Art, part of the University of Arts, London. Currently living in Nottingham.
I am of the opinion that a life story is made up from a few defining moments. I had one such defining moment - a ‘spiritual experience’ - just after my father died. I was walking my dog in a field on a sunny day. I had an indescribable awareness of oneness between myself and the universe. I realised that we are all made of energy and are connected to one another by a collective consciousness. This experience gave me an exceptionally powerful peaceful feeling and I would like to think it was a gift from my father.
Since then I have read books on quantum physics, that I inherited from my Dad, and Buddhism that describe the universe in a similar way. I have read accounts of people reporting similar experiences to mine while deep in meditation. This knowledge and understanding has inspired me to paint and influenced my creative process and has also stimulated me to undertake further study of the brain as a hypnotherapist and mind coach. During this training I discovered a relatively new field of spiritual psychology called ‘The Three Principles’ that has altered my understanding of the nature of thoughts and has informed my self-realization and, in turn, my work.

Biggest Love of your job
Freedom

Absolute dream project
A commissioned large scale painting solo show in any well known New York Gallery : )

Quality you admire most in an individual
Equanimity

Biggest Inspiration in the creative industry?
Carbon-Based Life-forms

What could the world do happily without?
Organised Religion

Biggest risk you’ve ever taken
Stepping into the unknown either spiritually or creatively

Lesson in life
When your mind clears your wisdom appears