Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

I like to create art that gives shape to the dark thoughts in my head—the ones that eat at me most at night when everything is quiet. I don’t always have the words for them, so I paint instead. It’s my way of releasing what builds up inside, of turning something heavy and overwhelming into something I can see, hold, and understand.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in the quiet weight of my own thoughts, even though it’s scary sometimes , and I don’t like being alone with my thoughtd—where what’s inside starts to spill outward and take shape. It comes from lived experience, memory, grief, anxiety, and the constant push and pull within the mind, where even silence can feel loud, and I try to translate that into something physical, something that holds what words can’t.

What would you do with $25,000?

With $25,000, I would prioritize stability, long-term security, and giving in a way that actually lasts. I’d set aside around $1,000–$3,000 for a reliable, inexpensive used car to handle daily needs, then dedicate the majority—roughly $12,000–$18,000—toward my kids’ future by placing it into a savings or investment account that can grow over time and support them when it matters most. I’d allocate another $2,000–$5,000 to support men’s mental health through meaningful donations.