Describe your creative process and how you go about starting and completing a finished piece.

It all begins in my imagination, usually on a long walk alone, observing little moments and flashes of life growing around me, light reflecting off of things in unique ways. I will spend time crouching, climbing, and getting really close to whatever I notice that holds my fancy visually, immersing myself in the sensory stimulus from the scene itself, whether it's a breeze, the smell of moss or a flower, the texture of a stone, etc. Then I'll take a photo, go back home and imagine the ways I might paint it with a limited pallet. When I get to the materials, I put some mood music on, and lay things out in a very specific and meticulous fashion. After a quick thumbnail sketch and pulling up a reference photo I continue with diving into the painting process itself quite quickly. The watercolour process is very paced out with ample time / whole days between each layer drying, and I will allow myself to really slow down to approach each layer as relaxed and fresh as possible. Completion is always a variable and interesting choice-point that emerges at an undetermined point in the process. I reach a place where I notice wanting to do more but not knowing exactly what benefit it would have. My favourite challenge is to stop right before perfectionism takes hold and pushes me to keep painting from a place of critique of the work.

What are you most inspired by and how is this reflected in your work?

I am most inspired by old architecture, fungus, and the ocean! I take photographs of these subjects as much as possible, and paint these things together a lot. I'm also very inspired by the interactions of shiny surfaces, transparency, and how light interacts with things in nature.

What are your artistic goals and how does your work contribute to your community?

My goals are to make more art more often, for my own health and joy! And I also want to share it more with others to spark joy and peace and moments for contemplation and awe in their lives for them when they see it. I want to contribute in this way to the emotional wellness of my community, and inspire discussions about emotions, mental health, neurodivergence, and vulnerability as a core strength and need for us all! A portion of all sales that I make will be donated to non-profit organizations that support hidden disabilities, disability justice, support systems and resources for neurodivergent people, and advocacy ventures.