Hello!
I'm Halaylah
(on the ground they call me Stephanie)
I'm an artist in the beautiful high desert of New Mexico.
I have both ADHD and Autism, and they have both been major influences in my work. I've always used art as a way to self-regulate, even before I knew what that was. I was the kid who doodled in class, and later at work, to help myself focus - as so many ADHDers do. I also love looking at familiar things in new ways - something that my Autistic mind specializes in. I used to say "I paint real things but make them look abstract." Now I think that's just how I see the world sometimes.
In my abstract works, my linework is very meditative. It is influenced by the practice exercises I learned in 8th grade, by traditional mehndi designs, and by what is now known as zentangle. I gravitate toward organic shapes and balanced, but not symmetrical, designs. Though my style has evolved over the years, I've always loved swirls and spirals. I find this kind of linework very soothing, and the motion of drawing the perfect swoopy line gives me a dopamine rush every time.
My character drawings are my way of collecting and showcasing all the characters that have helped me make sense of the world around me. As an Autistic, I often have trouble relating to the rest of the world, and I have always relied on stories to help me see different perspectives and make new connections, as I find similarities between fiction and real life - and between others' experiences and my own.
Thank you for stopping by! I hope you find something here that you enjoy.
- Hal