Molly Britt
A feature on artist Christina Pope
Words By Molly Britt
On a canvas filled with bright and contrasting acrylic colors are mixes of patterns painted by abstract artist Christina Pope. The patterns make you want to stare at each canvas for hours trying to see something hidden. At least, I do.
“It’s always been my dream, since I was super little, to be an artist, but I never actually pursued it,” Pope said, so she followed along the path of 9-5 office jobs and “practical” careers, thinking that’s what she needed to do. It was not until recently that she became able to pursue a career as an artist. What was once just a hobby had become her dream come true after discussing with her partner how she could move toward working as an artist full-time without fear of repercussions, financial or otherwise.
While working at her office job, she realized she just “wanted to be happy,” and the path she was on was not getting her to that spot. “It all came down to just, what did I want to do every single day with my life, and I wanted to create,” Pope said, feeling creativity was what was missing in her day-to-day life. The lack of response to her art and her inability to draw reactions from people as just a hobby made her feel as if she was missing a big piece “of my heart.”
Interestingly, her passion for drawing has turned into a love for painting. About two years ago, she began working with acrylic paint and found it to be more versatile in creating her images. It wasn’t long before she was achieving more with her art than she even realized was possible.
Pope’s pieces range in color and style, making sure to keep her audience interested. Created with the goal for viewers to see themselves represented in her work, her work is also intended to elicit raw reactions, whatever types of reactions those will be. “I wanted to create conversations and create feelings. It’s not about what I’m creating, it’s about what people see in it,” Pope said.
At just the beginning of her long artistic career, she hopes for her work to be known…to get it in front of as many people as possible, so that she can make people question themselves when they see it and ask what it is. “I just want it to be seen” is Pope’s hope for her work.
Outside of her painting, Pope is passionate about her family and her “life’s dream.” She’s a laid-back member of a friendly family living on a piece of land they bought to roam around on. She enjoys her daily life with her partner and kids, as she is always willing to learn more from her self-taught art skills.
Follow FOLIO!