Priscilla Studstill

Orlando, FL

“Creating brings me into a state of flow, of being one with the universe and all within it. Without the ability to create, a void is present, as if a part of my soul is missing. Being your true self, a creative force, is the ultimate place to be.”

For Priscilla (she/her/hers), art is a very personal, peaceful coping mechanism that helps her to overcome her disruptive past and her current physical limitations.

Priscilla grew up in central Florida as a child with mixed ethnicity and a family deeply affected by World War II: her Chinese mother survived imprisonment in a concentration camp.

As Priscilla explains, this upbringing fostered deep emotions that have caused her physical illness: "There was the strain of living in a world where you never quite fit in because of your heritage and the fall-out of problems stemming from the war. That atmosphere allowed me to grow up questioning everything, to perceive things differently, and to fuel my art." She continues, “I have used my illness to help me grow as a person, to find my true power and to come back around to my truth. It has also broadened my awareness and allowed me to discover what is really important and to let go of what is not. I am continuing to heal on all levels and I foresee myself being whole, happy, creative and loving.”

As for her artistic practice, “I tend to require solitude when I draw, with very little distraction. I have to find stillness within myself in order for me to recognize what I need to create.” Priscilla graduated college, majoring in graphic design and minoring in printmaking and advertising. She worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for many years, doing fine art on the side. She continues to express herself creatively and use her distinct style to impact others. 

"The true purpose [of creating art] is to change perception, to help people discover a new way of seeing the world, of new ways of being, believing, or understanding; opening the mind to possibilities, inspiring and changing. Artists are catalysts of change. Every artist contributes a new or different view through his or her personal journey and experiences and expresses it in his or her work.”