|
|
|
About Joshua
How an outlet for Bipolar disorder turned into a life’s passion…
Being given the devastating and life altering diagnosis of Bipolar disorder may not seem like it would inspire the creation of beautiful acrylic paintings or be the origin of an entirely unique artistic movement, but that is exactly what happened with Joshua Blankinship. After a lifetime of balancing ever-changing emotions, it wasn’t until Blankinship received a formal diagnosis and the recommendation of art therapy that his life began the process of stability. The visual release of those emotions through color and texture onto a blank canvas became both healing and comforting. The act of painting and creating felt completely natural and filled a void that he never realized existed. Joshua Blankinship had expressed an abundance of creativity along with unconventional problem solving his entire life. Although the treatments for his infant and toddler seizures were supposed to incite developmental delays, he flourished in "Gifted" and Honors classes throughout his educational life and excelled in creative writing. But, once he began college at age 17, his plummeting mental stability left him virtually incapacitated. After various stints in several inpatient mental health facilities, his diagnosis became clear---Bipolar disorder was the fuel that fed his engine of self-destruction. Interestingly, the very mental illness that ravaged his life also seemed to be what ignited his creativity and unique views on what's considered beautiful and why they're considered as such. Upon researching the history of the disorder and the famously afflicted victims, he noticed that many of the most creative people in history were linked to a Bipolar diagnosis. From Ernest Hemingway to Vincent Van Gogh---from Kurt Cobain to Jackson Pollock, Joshua realized that his greatest weakness had the potential ability to change the world. After years of practicing his craft via a constant obsession with painting and creating pieces that he hoped would present to the world the physical manifestations of his unique visual outlook that were crafted by his emotions, Blankinship felt comfortable sharing his work. The reception from the general public, others who suffered from Bipolar, and the art world was electric. Sales and requests for pieces surged. Joshua was asked to display his work in multiple solo and group exhibitions. Other established artists began attempts to replicate his style. And since, the subsequent momentum and excitement for his work has only escalated. It was this overwhelming popularity and demand that birthed the "Impressivism" movement---a term created by an artist friend who deemed that Joshua's work was a modern mix of "Impressionism" and "Expressionism." This title, along with the past artistic movements that Joshua's work molds in a uniquely modern way, seems to provide the perfect description of the vibrant colors and varying textures that are present in each Joshua Blankinship Original. Professional life: "Joshua is a highly decorated and multi-award winning artist and mental health advocate from Medina, Tennessee. He's sold hundreds of original works both domestically and internationally and has art hanging in 6 of the 7 continents (still working on Antarctica.) He's been the keynote speaker in several mental health and arts conferences. He has custom commissions hanging in the State of Tennessee's Governor's Mansion as well as homes of multiple celebrities---including the Memphis Grizzlies' superstar and 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year, Ja Morant, NFL All-Pro Running Back, Derrick Henry, the estate of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Carl Perkins, NBA All-Star, Brandon Ingram, Tennessee Titans All-Pro Defensive Lineman, Jurrell Casey, Hip Hop Legend, Project Pat, World Famous Boxer, Eric "Butterbean" Esch, etc.... Some of his corporate clients include: Netflix for use in the Adam Sandler and Lebron James produced film titled "Hustle", Paramount for work included in their mini-series "George and Tammy" that documents the relationship between country music legends George Jones and Tammy Wynette, ESPN for use in their documentary series, titled "NBA Rooks." Joshua provided the cover art for author James Cherry's re-release of his highly acclaimed novel, "Edge of the Wind." Joshua's art has also been featured in multiple print, television, news, and web publications. Recently, Joshua has been honored to have his art hanging in the prestigious Frist Art Museum in downtown Nashville, TN. He's a member of the American Impressionist Society. He's won "Best in Show" and "People's Choice" Awards for Leonid Afremov/Afremov.com's "Art for Peace" worldwide art competition. He was awarded and completed a 6 month artist residency in Kinston, NC in 2023. He's been showcased in multiple solo and group exhibitions across the United States and most recently received the Louetta Hix Memorial Artist of Distinction Award at the Phoenix Awards in Nashville, TN. Presently: Joshua works diligently to spread the emotional healing power of the arts by publicly speaking on it's importance and working with amazing non-profits such as the Healing Arts Project, Inc. of Middle and Western Tennessee. Joshua is a co-founder of Artists on Main--Medina, TN and works to promote the arts and the artists that reside in the Mid-South while helping, celebrating and bringing together the community through art." Personal life: Joshua is married to his beautiful wife, Rachel. They have 2 children and 2 crazy puppers. They reside in Medina, TN. |
