Currently watercolor and acrylic paintings. I’m a creator so I love to explore different mediums. For the longest time charcoal is what I reached for. The past two years I’ve been challenging myself to express myself with color. Bringing life to a painting with color is magical.

My inspiration comes from real life. For a long time, I thought inspiration was something you had to go out and find. Now I know it is already there. It shows up in what we go through, the people we love, and the moments that shape us whether we are ready for them or not. Losing my daughter changed everything for me. It changed the way I see the world and the way I create. After something like that, you do not move through life the same. You slow down. You notice things you used to overlook.

If I were awarded the $25,000, I would invest it into building out Panda’s Palette as a creative space for the community. This studio was created with a purpose beyond making art. It is a place where people can come in, sit down, and create without pressure. A place where someone carrying grief, stress, or the weight of everyday life can have a moment to breathe. The funding would go toward supplies, workstations, and creating a space that feels welcoming to everyone.