I’m drawn to layered, textured work—especially things that carry emotion without needing words. I like the balance of control and chaos… parts that are detailed and grounded, and parts that are loose and a little unpredictable. I don’t want my work to feel perfect. I want it to feel real.

From real life. From change. From the kind of moments that shift you, even if no one else sees it. Nature plays a big role, but it’s really about what’s underneath that—resilience, instinct, survival, calm after the storm. A lot of my work comes from reflecting on what life has taught me. My empathetic observation of our world can be too loud for words, creating is the way I am able to portray what I’m feeling. And hopefully, help bring attention to the importance of the subject.

I’d use it to remove the barriers that slow my work down, continue to develop and grow. I would invest in getting my work in front of more people, and assist other artists in my community to do the same. A part of it would go toward helping my mom have a worry-free life. She is the artist who opened my world to creating. With my brother and I she was always painting, sculpting, building, reading, drawing.. she encouraged our artistic skills and grew our imaginations, such a valuable commodity.