WHY NOW?

For a long time, creating was something I did for myself.

I never really thought I was good enough to seriously pursue art. I painted because I wanted to paint. I made candles because I wanted to make candles. I rebuilt things people threw away because I could see something in them that wasn't there yet. Creating gave me somewhere to go, something to focus on, and a way to express parts of myself that I didn't always know how to explain.

Then I had a life-changing experience that made me look at my life differently.

I realized I want more from this world.

I want to see more. I want to do more. I want to make more. I want to be more.

And part of that means finally allowing myself to take something I love seriously.

I don't know exactly where my art is going to take me. Maybe that's what makes this exciting. For once, I don't need to know the ending before I start.

I know that I love art. I love creating. I love taking an idea that exists only inside my head and turning it into something I can physically hold. I love watching somebody look at something I made and laugh. I love when someone asks what a painting means. I love when someone sees something I've created and says, “Whoa, where did you get that?” and I get to tell them that I made it.

I've realized that keeping everything I create to myself almost defeats part of what I love about creating.

Art can start with me without ending with me.

Something I made because I was sad might make another person feel understood. Something I made because I thought it was hilarious might make a stranger laugh. Something deeply personal to me might mean something completely different to someone else. And something I almost didn't make because I thought it wasn't good enough might end up being somebody else's favorite piece.

I want to give my work the opportunity to do that.

I'm not pursuing art because I've suddenly decided I'm an incredible artist. I'm pursuing it because I've finally realized I don't need to believe that in order to try.

Life can change incredibly quickly. I've experienced enough of it to understand that waiting until someday to do the things you love is a dangerous way to live.

So this is me not waiting anymore.

ALSUPINYOURFACE

The name Alsupinyourface started as a play on my last name: Alsup.

All up in your face.

It's funny, it's a little ridiculous, and it's very me. But the more I've created, the more the name has started to mean something else.

My work is me putting myself all up in your face.

My happiness is in it. My sadness is in it. My sense of humor is in it. My relationships are in it. My fears are in it. My darkest thoughts are in it. The people and animals I've loved are in it. The stupid things that make me laugh are in it. Even pieces of things other people threw away become part of it.

I'm not trying to create a polished version of myself for people to see.

I'm showing you who I am and what I am.

Some of it is colorful. Some of it is uncomfortable. Some of it is meaningful. Some of it is completely stupid. Some of it might make you think, What the hell was he thinking?

Good.

Because that's probably exactly what I was thinking too.

Alsupinyourface isn't just the name I put on my art. It's me deciding that instead of keeping everything inside, I'm going to put it right in front of you.

This is what I make.

This is what I love.

This is who I am.

Alsup. In your face.