Tay Somers

Artist Statement

They say that the brain is like a sponge. When you are young, the sponge is new, flexible, and full of potential to soak up new things. As you age, the sponge dries out, hardens, and loses its plasticity. During every step of this process, it is imperative to continue to learn new things and reinforce your knowledge and skills, as this is how we keep our brains healthy and our minds sharp. As the saying goes, “use it or lose it.” Curiosity is arguably one of the most important things to constantly reinforce so that we do not lose it with time. It is my core belief that curiosity is a keystone trait and mental practice that drives people to achieve happiness, both interpersonally and intrapersonally. I make a point to surround myself with ideas and visuals that put me back in that “wet sponge” headspace so that I may preserve my childlike sense of wonder and whimsy. Through my art, I like to investigate the mental and physical things “lost” as we go through the journey of life. I use vibrant stylized watercolor illustrations to explore ideas that exercise my curiosity muscles and reflect on my perceptions of things often overlooked.