Artist Statement: Lorie Caval.

People are so often left alienated, hiding the very parts of ourselves that make us unique and beautiful. We often perceive ourselves as alone and incapable of connecting with the world, with one another, unable to give to – or create anything new with – one another. My artwork expresses a yearning for connection, the power of human vulnerability as well as spiritual strength, and the often untapped powerful worlds that exist inside us all.

As a self-taught artist, my approach to drawing and painting started as a means to express emotions – my own as well as the emotionality of the images I created. Before I knew the importance of technique, before I knew to learn from (or compare myself to) master painters, I felt the significance of creating space for expressing the authentic self. Societally speaking, we are not encouraged to express ourselves fully, complete with vulnerabilities. Our strengths are encouraged only if they are perceived as strengths within our assigned roles in society.