What is your favorite type of art to create?

Personally, art isn't about capturing what I see, but translating what I feel. I gravitate toward abstract expressionism because it grants me the freedom to prioritize chromatic energy and structural flow over rigid definitions. By abandoning traditional forms, I can engage in a more honest dialogue with the canvas—one where every brushstroke or pour acts as a cathartic release, turning intangible emotions into a tangible, visual rhythm.

Where do you find inspiration?

My work is a direct transcription of my internal dialogue—a tapestry woven from a lifetime of thoughts, fleeting visions, and lived experiences. I identify as an emotional painter, meaning the canvas is never a pre-planned destination but rather a territory where I explore and interpret the weight of my feelings in real-time. By externalizing these private landscapes, I’m able to look back at my own history through a lens of color and light, finding meaning in the abstraction of my own memory.

What would you do with $25,000?

Every brushstroke and color carries the potential for internal alchemy. My passion for the healing arts has led me to a singular goal: becoming an art therapist who empowers others to find their voice where words often fail. This $25,000 prize represents more than tuition; it is the bridge to a career where I can turn the act of creation into an act of recovery. With this support, I will earn my degree and help others transform their lived experiences into a visual language of hope.