My favorite art comes from trying something I've never done before using materials that might be collecting dust or destined for the trash. I believe the first time I experiment with a new medium—especially with recycled materials—it sparks fresh inspiration. I don't always know if the result will be a masterpiece or make me question if I’m even creating art, but I always learn something new about myself in the process. My art is about finding myself in the work and giving life to my ideas.

I find my greatest inspiration in the rearview mirror. Starting my artistic journey later in life has given me a deep well of experiences to draw from—the places I’ve called home and the moments that shaped me. My art is a reflection of this personal history, serving as both a celebration of the good times and a quiet space to process the difficult ones. My art has become a way to honor where I’ve been.

Winning this prize would allow me the opportunity to travel with my daughter, to Silago, Ireland to find the farm my family owned before immigrating to America. My art has been a reflection of my past and experiences that have shaped me and being able to visit the soil where my family started would be a gift. I plan to stand on that land and paint a landscape that reflects the joy of seeing one of the places my families story began.