Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

I love working with oil paints because they allow me to capture the depth and movement of landscapes and wide expressive skies. I’m equally drawn to still lifes, especially flowers. The colors, textures, and delicate forms of the numerous flowers in nature provide me with endless subjects. Both styles let me slow down, observe closely, and translate what I find beautiful into something meaningful on canvas.

Where do you find inspiration?

I draw my inspiration straight from the beautiful creation in front of me: pastures dotted with cows, rolling fields of hay, brilliant sunsets, tall standing trees, and the soft fog of early morning. All of them inspire my paintbrush. Another place of inspiration is my imagination. Vivid dreams and wandering daydreams are just as real as nature and keep me creating.

What would you do with $25,000?

I’d use $25,000 to create a community art initiative that brings creativity to people who rarely get access to it. I’d buy a small studio space and fill it with quality supplies. The heart of my project would be outreach. I’d offer classes to underprivileged children whose schools no longer have art programs, as well as workshops for elderly adults rediscovering their creative voices. My goal is to create a space where anyone can learn, explore, and gain confidence through art.