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Meet Element Rose

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Element Rose.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. From the young age of 3 or 4 doodling during church to try to stay quiet for my parents, I don’t think I’ve put down a pencil since then. Thank the Universe my parents recognized my need for expression; and immediately signed me up for “private” lessons. The first art teacher I had till I was in middle school, but it wasn’t pleasant. I was gothic for a long time, dealing with anger I really didn’t know from where, and she would often use me as selling point, “See we even accept the weird ones here”, as she smiled and giggled in my face. She forced us to use a projector and refused to allow us to practice our handskills. It was honestly torture. In high school I found Judy Mckinney… if it wasn’t for her I would have given up on art completely! She showed me its okay to have these weird ideas, in fact she loved them. I was able to come into my own as a surrealist and allow my painting to start working with me instead of just doing something to hang on the wall.

In high school, I was lost emotionally. Trying desperately to find a way for my art to reflect the turmoil my teenage angst was bringing into my life. Without Judy, I would not have made it through this part of my life. My parents had separated for a short time…. and even though I look well put together now…this was not the case. I’m originally from Texarkana which is not a very promising area for artists. With no exaggeration, I got into the streets really hard. I was in an extremely abusive relationship from 16/17-19.. thats when I ran to Dallas. There was so much that happened between the last three years of living in Texarkana. I know I could not live the life I was supposed to live if I didn’t leave. Hell, I may not have even been alive at all.

There were only two places I saw myself before I came to Dallas:
1. Pregnant and Dead
2. In Jail for taking the fall for someone else to prove myself, or from my own choices.

I would like to state I actually came from a very loving home, all of these choices stemmed from me not moving or understanding myself.

Within the first year of me leaving my ex tried to kill me by tampering with my car. I had to sell it and take my moms. Fast forward to college, I fought trichotillomania, which pretty much means I plucked my hair out of stress (only my eyebrows), I found out I have split personality disorder that had been laying dormant, and I had many losses in my family during the last three years of it all; but I knew it was something important that was supposed to come from all of this. I also didn’t paint the entire time I was in college. The day I graduated is the day I picked up a brush again. I had a whole new level of ability hiding and waiting for school to end so it could flourish and make itself known.

My art stems from a lot of pain, but it has allowed me to grow in a way others never get the opportunity. It has allowed me to learn self-love, expression, and acceptance. It has taught me to look at others with empathy and an open heart to understand who they are. The brush allows me to express my true self when my mouth doesn’t know how to articulate. Art has kept me focused, sane, and functioning.

I want to close with this. I may have come from a dark place, but art has always been my silver lining. I knew from a small child I was never going to hold a normal job; and you know the world is very cruel when it notices you are not falling in line or conforming to what is “normal”. I work full time as a graphic designer now. Art is my life and it allows me to wake up every morning with love and appreciation for everything I’ve been through, everything I am, and everything I am becoming. My only hope in life is someone is able to look at my story and find inspiration and hope.

Has it been a smooth road?
Its never been a smooth road. I have struggled with abusive relationships, mental health obstacles, and daily life living with these issues. I have struggled with anxiety and ptsd from these situations which, honestly, caused me to borderline go into hiding when I first came to Dallas. I came to Dallas alone, and it was the best choice I ever made.

Please tell us more about your art.
I specialize in canvas hand made art, as well as graphic design ranging from branding needs to video editing,

I’m proud of how far I’ve come in life and be able to know I’m making my mother proud every day.

My fight, my ability to interpret ideas and needs, and my ability to use my struggles as fuel for my success allows me to set myself apart.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
There is so much opportunity in Dallas, especially from where I came from, it’s insane. Go to art shows, you don’t even have to be in them, just go to make connections with fellow artists. Participating in art shows is also good; but it’s hard to find the right place without forking out a lot of money; but I’ve noticed a shift in that lately. The art community is tired of paying 300 dollars just to make an appearance or being forced to compromise their work just to be considered. There is a new uprising in the Dallas art scene… and it’s exciting to watch and be apart of.

Pricing:

  • All of my painting start at 150 and up. I also have non refundable deposits (usually 50-100) depending on the project.
  • Graphic design wise: my flyers start at 50 and logos at 300 (also 50-100 non refundable depending on project)
  • All of my projects (freelance) are pretty much by choice with my current full time career; but I LOVE solving other peoples puzzles.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Element Rose

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