Be Resilient

Be Resilient

"Long Road to Wisdom"

(Digital Media)

"Be Resilient"

(Digital Media)

"My Own Two Feet"

(Digital Media)

"Grow"

(Digital Media)

I am 33 and just learned I was autistic a year ago. I'm a genderqueer (she/her) pansexual, mentally (ch)ill disabled stay-at-home mama to three boys, ages 4, 3, and 1. My spare time is dedicated to streaming my art and two games I play (Smite and Minecraft). I have drawn since my preschool years and always had a fascination with art. I taught myself to draw by pausing my Disney video tapes and drawing what was on the screen. I struggled in high school but ended up getting a scholarship to pursue art education. I got my degree with K12 Art Education and taught a year before having to go on disability due to my deteriorating mental health. I started streaming when I went on disability, after my husband urged me that I needed a good, solid hobby to focus on. I've been going strong since 2012! I use my platforms to spread mental health and autism awareness by talking openly about my life, and by starting up convos on mental health. I struggle with a lot of social anxiety and overstimulation, and oftentimes am more of a lurker/media poster vs chatter — but get me talking about one of my special interests and you may find that I won't shut up, ha! Life is a struggle for me but I take each day as it comes. I love, love, love to draw portraiture.

I #LivetoTell because giving up is not an option. Mental health matters!
Kirsten Parker
Artist

About the Artist

I’m a 27 year old who has been through a great bit. Two brain tumors, abusive relationship, moving a few times growing up due to my father being in the Navy. Whenever I am hurt, lost, or alone, I turn to my art, that one little, small piece of me that I can feel truly safe and complete.

I #LivetoTell that life is hard, it constantly tests you in so many ways. There will be many times where you feel like you have broken or are about to break. But it is not the end. This life, it’s a long road to wisdom and understanding, and sometimes it requires us to lean on the ones that make us feel safe to get through it the worst of it. My art is the one thing that makes me feel completely vulnerable and safe, where I can open up and let all my emotions out without outside influence and judgement. When I wanted to end it all, I threw myself into my art and sought medical help; my art kept me from going over the point of no return.

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