Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

My favorite type of art to create are mixed media pieces or portraits. Mixed media gives me the freedom to use a combination of paint, paper scraps or whatever other craft supply I like to create something totally my own. Mixed media pieces offer me a level of escape. Portraits, on the other hand, require transferring a reference photo onto a new surface. When a portrait is complete there is such a high level of satisfaction when I’ve captured a person’s essence and emotion.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration from the people around me, and the need for personal expression. My biggest inspiration during my childhood was my brother James. He always encouraged me to make artwork that was whatever I wanted it to be. Often times our conversation, jokes, or troubles would compel me to create. We lost James in March of 2020 to suicide. I try to honor his memory, and keep myself sane, by making artwork. His memory, and all the people in my life who support me, keep me creating.

What would you do with $25,000?

If I won the $25,000 I would invest it into my family. I recently had my first child, a son. He has brought me joy that I never knew I could feel. I would love to either buy us a home or invest the winnings into my career as a tattoo artist, so I can continue to provide him with the life he deserves.