"Art is my religion, because no other word describes what art means to my life."

written by Krystal Wayne

KD Anthony lives under the conviction that her art is her religion. Rather than having created her pieces, every aspect of art has helped create her. KD has drawn her influence of art not only from herself, but from countless other areas of life. Tutoring started at the age of 14 with, as KD calls him, the genius instructor David D. Ewart, and was later continued by George Salas, an artist and sculptor in Albuquerque New Mexico. After graduating from Rio Rancho High School, KD attended the Art Institute in Denver, Colorado, which she later left, after a short employment in a local flower shop, to find a new direction in life. KD found said direction while volunteering in a Veterans shelter (located in New Mexico). From volunteering KD found further direction and joined the United States Marine Corps, with the hopes of using the experiences obtained there as inspiration for her art. After being honorably discharged in 2007 KD moved to Oceanside, CA, in 2008, to pursue her career as a professional artist.

Having grown up in Albuquerque, New Mexico she was exposed to Native American Mythology and the Christianity of common day America. KD was quickly inspired by the colorful paintings and depictions located in the Holy Bibles, and stemming from such interest in the Bible, KD explored the realms of Greek and Roman Mythology. KD also drew inspiration from common day graphic novels and fantasy and sci-fi art. However, mythological references in her art did not stop at common American entities. Come her early twenties, KD had drawn inspiration from the soul, culture, and experiences she had in New Zealand, Pattaya, Okinawa and Mt. Fuji.

The breathtaking, landscapes of New Zealand were the first major landscapes to enthuse KD’s artistic soul. Later, the soul of Japan proved inspirational for its incomparable love of mythology and storytelling; the customs and stories are highly valued by the people there. Pattaya, Thailand, roused her artistic soul in a different manner: radiantly painted Buddha and Hindu gods, art filled with light and vivid color motivated KD to fill her art with the same vivid energy and meaning. KD’s art is aesthetic and it has the power to move your soul and ensnare your mind.

Come March 3, 2008, KD became an officially self-employed artist, and began focusing her career by utilizing her newly created ‘Fool Series.’ ‘The Fool’ was an unexpected discovery, and KD seemed to have an unanticipated need to utilize the ‘Fool’ as a symbol in her work. She finds meaning in this character and believes that it encompasses bold individuals from historical court jesters to modern comedians. KD believes that the fool possesses an ability to heal by exposing madness. KD wishes to illustrate these fools as heroes because, “they affected society with a daring voice empowered by laughter.”

Art, to her, is the creation of a symbol, or an artistic piece, and using the symbol, or piece, to communicate a message, to society today.