Monique Hoff

Artist statement

I wanted to create a process that could break me out of the cycle I¡¯ve been in with my art for years. My art and I have a toxic relationship that has had its good and bad spots, most of which ended in fights regardless of how they started. I think I¡¯ve been able to find that process by prioritizing the parts of creation that are the most enjoyable. Doodling has always been the easiest part of drawing, since there is no pressure to create something great or complete, and I could abandon it at any time I wanted to and it wouldn¡¯t matter. Less thinking and more working with my hands.

I¡¯ve always wanted to be a mermaid. I couldn¡¯t exactly say why, the ocean just fascinates me. And also my favorite color is blue, and the ocean is a lot of blue. But it¡¯s also really colorful, and really pale at times too. Being underwater feels like being ¡®in¡¯ something in a way that air can¡¯t compare to. It feels like everything that¡¯s in the same body of water is connected, but when you look, it seems so disconnected at the same time. A lot of creatures living amongst each other but not overly concerned with each other.

Anyway, I like fish and sea creatures a lot so I end up doodling them a lot as well. I use that attitude of connected but not overly concerned with one another to drive the relationships between the creatures I doodle. It¡¯s been working for me so far; I don¡¯t get caught up in trying to make something I need to be proud of, but in the end, I am content with what I¡¯ve created. That gives me the confidence to continue making things.