Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

I create abstract paintings because it is the most natural way for me to work. I have synesthesia, so sound moves through me as color, line, and form, and I translate that directly onto the surface. I usually begin with a scene from a movie. My background in film shapes how I build the work. That moment gives me a starting point. A line forms, color follows, and I build from there. Each stroke is intentional and tied to what I am feeling. Painting is how I process what I cannot put into words.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration within myself, but it is shaped by what I experience around me. It can come from a person, a place, or even just a moment that stays with me. I hold onto that feeling and carry it into my work. I start with instinct. I follow what feels right before I fully understand it. Then the emotion builds and takes over for a while. Toward the end, my mind steps in and helps me bring it all together, adding structure and intention without losing what made it real in the first place.

What would you do with $25,000?

I would use $25,000 to care for my 78-year-old mother, who is living with dementia. We have been through a lot since my father was murdered in 1996, when I was 21, and I have carried that responsibility on my own. I would take her to see the northern lights in Iceland. She has not had a vacation in over 25 years, and it would mean everything to give her that experience. I would use the remaining money for a mobile art studio for my town.