My artistic practice began as an outlet for my mental illness. Now it has become as important to me as the air I breathe. I begin with a simple idea based purely in aesthetics. Then, as I begin to create, new possibilities present themselves in the form of ideas. I am excited by the uncomfortable and try to cultivate an appreciation for discomfort within my artwork. Taking time to appreciate all feelings, even those that are unpleasant, as integral parts of the human experience.

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I paint figures to step out of my own skin and work within that of someone else. I get lost in the color of their eyes, the gentle highlights on soft skin, and the intimacy of their expression. I choose subjects who have been impactful in my life and portray them in a way that reflects the part of me that I see in them. I force myself to work with my own image in order to confront the reality of my existence. To study the shell that houses my mind with a degree of separation in the form of artistic medium.

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My art references the emotions I feel so deeply and helps me understand myself in a way that is unrecognizable through any other lens. Too me, art is therapy. Through my practice I am able to safely express myself without causing harm. The illness inside my head is free to roam across a blank canvas, and in that moment I feel as if everything is going to be okay even if just for a moment.