I don’t limit myself to one type—painting, drawing, collage, and mixed media all have a place in my work. What matters is what speaks. I choose the medium that best evokes the emotion and feeling I’m trying to express. I’m drawn to bold color, texture, and movement—art that feels alive and connects on a deeper level.

I find inspiration in what speaks—moments, color, emotion, and the feeling behind them—but also in what’s harder to explain. Sometimes it’s pain, perspective, and the way the world feels from the inside out. It’s the contrast between how I see myself and how others see me, or between who I was and who I am now. Creating is how I process, adapt, and keep going—trying to express those things so someone else can understand, even a little, without having to live it.

I would use the $25,000 to create a space that lets me keep living and creating at home as long as I can. That means building an accessible bathroom and adapting my home for future needs, along with a small art space where I can continue making work on both good days and hard ones. Art is how I stay connected to myself, and this would help me keep that part of me alive while also planning for what’s ahead.