2023 Out Film CT LGBTQ+ Film Festival trailerPen created the 30-second trailer for the 2023 Out Film CT Film Festival, the oldest film festival in the state of Connecticut. The trailer was premiered at the Hartford Yard Goats minor-league baseball game on Friday, September 8th.
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Featured Work
Firenze / 2023
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Pen completed this door for a patron in early 2023.
The homeowner was impressed by the hidden doorbell. |
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Alice / 2021 - SOLD
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Alice was commissioned by a client who loves Margaret Keane's big-eye paintings from the 1970s.
This work is a play off of Alice in Wonderland. Pen's goal was to change the idea that Alice had long, blond hair. By giving Alice shorter, darker hair, it opens it up so that any girl could see herself as Alice. |
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Sail / 2020 - SOLD
PEN'S ARTIST STATEMENT
Tim Burton is my favorite director, Vincent D'Onofrio is my favorite actor, and Dale Chihuly is my favorite artist. All of them are on the autism spectrum, and their work is magnificent. Their disabilities didn't hold them back, so I guess it's clear that I no longer have excuses.
My work experience has all been in the arts (painting, murals, graphic design, website design, and media arts). I have done internships with the California Institute of the Arts, the Connecticut Old State House, and SelinsgroveSTART. I have worked with young children, school students, adults, and seniors. As long as there is art involved, I'm there!
Aside from being a student at both Trinity College and Capital Community College where I am majoring in--you guessed it--art, I also volunteer at The Bushnell, Out Film CT, Stonewall Speakers, Playhouse on Park, CT Forum, and the Hartford Artisan Weaving Center. I am also a member of my church's Welcoming Committee. I love my community, and I loved being involved in it.
Often, I have found that art is often only for people who can afford it. Those who have enough money to purchase the piece and hang it in their homes or those who pay the admission fee and enter beautiful museums are sometimes the only ones who are exposed to art. But that really isn’t fair. Art should be available to everyone. And I love that the people of Hartford feel the same way. When I moved to this city, I realized that I could enter one of the most amazing art museums in the world (Wadsworth Athenium) for free, just because I am a resident. Thank you, Hartford. That is a huge gift. And I absolutely love all of the murals that are popping up all over the city, as well.
In addition, I do believe that it's easy to combine art and education, and I do my best to incorporate interactive elements into my pieces. An example of this is The Southern Ocean mural I did in 2021. I included the names of the aquatic life in Morse code, as I was hoping that it would encourage young children to find Morse code charts online to help them decipher the animal names. It is probably my favorite piece that I have done because it was beautiful and fun and educational.
If you'd like to chat more about art, please send me an email. I'd love to hear from you!
Pen
penbxtr@gmail.com
My work experience has all been in the arts (painting, murals, graphic design, website design, and media arts). I have done internships with the California Institute of the Arts, the Connecticut Old State House, and SelinsgroveSTART. I have worked with young children, school students, adults, and seniors. As long as there is art involved, I'm there!
Aside from being a student at both Trinity College and Capital Community College where I am majoring in--you guessed it--art, I also volunteer at The Bushnell, Out Film CT, Stonewall Speakers, Playhouse on Park, CT Forum, and the Hartford Artisan Weaving Center. I am also a member of my church's Welcoming Committee. I love my community, and I loved being involved in it.
Often, I have found that art is often only for people who can afford it. Those who have enough money to purchase the piece and hang it in their homes or those who pay the admission fee and enter beautiful museums are sometimes the only ones who are exposed to art. But that really isn’t fair. Art should be available to everyone. And I love that the people of Hartford feel the same way. When I moved to this city, I realized that I could enter one of the most amazing art museums in the world (Wadsworth Athenium) for free, just because I am a resident. Thank you, Hartford. That is a huge gift. And I absolutely love all of the murals that are popping up all over the city, as well.
In addition, I do believe that it's easy to combine art and education, and I do my best to incorporate interactive elements into my pieces. An example of this is The Southern Ocean mural I did in 2021. I included the names of the aquatic life in Morse code, as I was hoping that it would encourage young children to find Morse code charts online to help them decipher the animal names. It is probably my favorite piece that I have done because it was beautiful and fun and educational.
If you'd like to chat more about art, please send me an email. I'd love to hear from you!
Pen
penbxtr@gmail.com
