Singing the Blues

Yocom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her early twenties. Over the years, she has searched for a way to give expression to an acceptance of her condition. The fluid nature of alcohol inks as they move along nonporous surfaces is highly meditative and soothes her mind. She can express such joy and happiness with bright blues and purples and can dig deeper into the scars of her life with darker shades of greens, yellows and reds. Yocom uses these vibrant hues to express emotion, whether it is the highs of mania or the lows of depression. Using this medium gives her permission to articulate what cannot be put into words. She says, “My head and heart connect, and I am at peace within myself.”