Tika, My Darling

I was trying to think of an artist I really love. One who inspires me and moves me and all that. A few names popped into my head, but none of them seemed right. After thinking about it, I realized that the artists who most inspire me are usually my friends.

Let’s take my friend Tika.

She’s a goofy free spirit. She’s in my photography class and doesn’t see herself as much of an artist. But I, of course, disagree. Tika creates some of the most beautiful and creative pictures I have ever seen. They make me think, smile, and want to go out and create something too (an effect I think all good art has).

I know there has been a debate about whether or not photography is really art. I know it is. And to anyone who disagrees, I’d like to show them some of Tika’s pictures. She has a real talent for creating a surrealist image just using a camera. Let’s take the photo above. It’s of her cousin and his girlfriend I think. Every time I look at it, I smile. It communicates the silliness and lightness of a relationship, and subtly a deeper and more complex feeling about love. To me anyway. But even without the emotional aspect, this picture is just really cool. It’s beautiful, with colors and textures that are out of this world. I want to have this hanging in my bedroom.

And this one. Again, she did not edit this image, just captured it with her camera. AND it’s a self-portrait. Now, if that’s not artistic talent, I just don’t know what is.

Tika, while being a great friend and an amazing human, is also a superb artist. She makes me feel good and I want to own everything she creates.