I like to especially create paintings or charcoal drawings that are bold, moody and are excavated from the shadowy parts of who I am. I do enjoy lighter subjects such as floral/nature or animals, but the process of creating something a bit darker helps me explore corners of my soul that are tough to access otherwise. I also like to create work that stimulates wonder and even some discomfort in others—that inspires the viewer to also explore the darker corners of their soul and learn from it.

I find inspiration from feelings I experience and those around me experience. When I am feeling deeply is when I feel most called to create. Grief, uncertainty, longing, hope, and fear are the most intense drivers for me to make art, even if the subject of my creation doesn’t explicitly reflect that. People inspire me every day in my career (over a decade in social services). The sheer, crushing pain people can endure and rise above from inspires me. Love inspires me. Life inspires me.

I signed up for this not with the primary intention of seeking monetary gain, but to share my art with the world. If I were to come into this prize, I would use a small portion to create a more comfortable creating space (instead of sitting on the floor!) and more importantly, I’d like to give the rest to some kind of program that provides art therapy to survivors of crime or abuse.