My favorite type of art to create lives between simplicity and emotional depth,work that can appear gentle at first glance, but slowly unfolds the longer you sit with it. I am most drawn to watercolor storybook illustrations because of their softness, unpredictability, and honesty. Watercolor, feels like a conversation with the page rather than control over it. It flows, it resists, it bleeds into unexpected places, and in that surrender there is a kind of truth that feels aligned with reality.

I’m inspired by nostalgic, old-school storybook illustrations that carry warmth and softness. I find inspiration in animals as emotional stand-ins in a narrative. There is something honest about them; they don’t overcomplicate feelings, and yet they carry so much presence and meaning. Nature, too, is a constant language in my work. Trees, water, skies, and changing light become metaphors for emotional states, soft transitions between clarity and confusion, stillness and movement.

With this prize, my first intention would be to use a big part of it to expand my child sponsorships so I can support more children in a sustained way. I would focus on ensuring access to education, school supplies, healthcare, and safe environments where children can grow with stability and dignity. I also care deeply about their emotional wellbeing, helping children feel encouraged, and empowered. I would hope to use this funding to create lasting seeds of change in their life and mine.