Get to know me:

Elise

My name is Elise, I am 17 (almost18) I am queer, pansexual and gendernonconfirming but I don't like to label, I am me. I am neurodivergent, dyslexic (and have other undiagnosed issues). I am an artistic rollerskater, I skate for Medway RDC. I do drag (just starting out), I can be very quiet and shy but I can also be very loud and energetic. I love shopping, fashion and clothes, maths and going to the gym. I have 2 cats (Yoda and Storm). I love pink, Pink, Piink. Bows, stars, Barbie, drag race, Dior, makeup, perfume, Victoria Secret, colours, cats, animals.

I grew up in Greater London, Bromley I went to Balgowan primary school and Hayes secondary school. I took art for GCSE and A level, I got a 9 in GCSE art and I didn't feel as if my GCSE art really connected to me, however it was definitely the start. I love to bake cookies (I make the best cookies), I also make the best Yorkshire puddings you can ask anyone who has had one! I drive a fiat 500 and have it decorated all pink and fluffy. My room is also pink.

Queer

I am queer, pansexual and gendernonconfirming but I don't like to label as a queer person. I have experiences with homophobia and internalised homophobia. It took me a long time to accept myself for who I am. I believe queerness is such a beautiful thing and it is so sad to see such a hatred and controversy behind it all. I think we are all just people and individuals, everyone experiences gender and sexuality differently so why categorise us all. I also don't believe in the gender construct, and that is such an interesting concept to talk about.

Art journey

I have always been taught good art is realism and I never really understood abstract. However as I have grown as a person I realised art is not just about what you see, it is so much more. There is story and meaning behind abstract there is so much more to art then just copying a picture. This was when my art really began to evolve, it is still evolving.

I now paint what I want, when I want. Creativity cannot be forced and cannot be rushed. I follow my soul and wherever it leads me. My art tends to be led by colour as I feel colour can really change the idea, meaning and feeling of something, help express what is meant to be portrayed.

I do not sell prints as I feel this devalues art, art should not be made for mass consumption. My A level art theme is self exploration, my aim through this is to embrace end explore all my insecurities, hurts and vunerabilities. To look into not only who I am, but why I am who I am, and who I want to be. I look at reasons people feel as though they cannot explore themselves as well as exploring the joy of why you should not let anything stop you and you should be yourself. I cannot wait for the A level to finish so I can share this work.

Neurodiversity and mental health

I am dyslexic and have other undiagnosed issues. As a neurodivergent person I have never felt fully seen, understood or listened to and my art gives hope that maybe one day someone will understand me. I have always felt dumb or not good enough, and been treated like a child or as if I am less worthy. People never really listened to me, because I was quiet I didn't get much help in school or lessons, a lot of teachers didn't even know that I am dyslexic (even though it said it in the register). I have always felt different, left out and never fully understood other people or social reactions, leaving me to get socially drained easily and for people not to like me, so I have never had many friends.

From a young age my mental health was always not too good. I have always wondered why I seem to feel such big emotions and be affected by everything so much more than anyone else. I have always wondered why no one else seemed to care, why no one listened to me and thought I was dramatic or attention seeking. The truth is when you are a kid, other kids around you don't understand and you don't understand it yourself therefore you begin to believe you are in it alone and its normal to feel this way just something you have to deal with. Adults don't explain such difficult things to kids so without knowing it grows and you begin to believe it will never get better and it gets worse and worse over time to the point where it gets out of your control. Even though you have grown up and learnt about these things, you never really learn how to deal with it from a young age and it will haunt you forever knowing you could go back there at any time. You never fully know how you got there, how did it get so bad and how did I not realise it? Why wouldn't it stop and where did I go? There was so much more going on than people could see, and it hurts to look back at that little misunderstood kid knowing, like me, that so many more kids don't get help, but what hurts the most is knowing some of those kids don't survive and get out like I did. Forever thankful I got out.

I have always believed I could never be happy and I wasn't meant to be happy. However this past year or 2 I realised I can be. I have really worked on myself, a lot of my art is about this, this realisation is what pushed me to follow my dreams and become an artist.

Roller skating

I do artistic roller skating. This past year I have really found my love for it again. Over a year ago now I moved clubs when I wanted to quit. I stuck with it and I am so glad I did as I ended up wining my roller cup event with my Melinie Martinez Madhatter free dance. And I feel I have made friends for life who really care and understand me. I feel like I have made family.

I have also started to go outdoor skating in Brigton this past year. This really helped gain my love back for skating and helped me gain my love for Brighton (where I will be moving to soon).

Roller skating also helped with socialising and regaining my faith in humanity, realising some people are actually really kind.