I am a weird, plant-loving, velvet-fist Masshole artist who creates wild and wonky faces in Tennessee, where my art flourishes like Hawaiian flowers in the snow-covered mountains of Vermont—where my career began. My journey as an artist is deeply rooted in the experiences of chronic illness that shaped my life from a young age. This adversity has forged my tenacity, resilience, and faith, and it has driven me to create art that is not just an outlet, but a necessity.

 

Art is more than a creative pursuit for me; it’s a vital medicine. In a life marked by physical limitations, I chose to channel my pain into art, transforming struggle into beauty and purpose. Creating daily is my way of surviving, a deliberate act of turning hardship into fuel that sparks new works into existence. The immersive process of art-making allows me to escape the confines of my physical body, offering a sanctuary where play, meditation, and joy coexist.

 

My work is a constant amidst life’s unpredictability. Vibrant colors, intertwining vines, and pharmacy inserts are ever-present elements, symbolizing my medical history and my career as a pharmacy technician. These symbols ground me, reminding me of both the battles I’ve fought and the strength I’ve gained. In 2022, I challenged myself to revisit figure drawing and portraiture—a skill I hadn’t focused on since college. This challenge culminated in the “She Chooses Which Direction to Grow” series, which was the theme of my 85-piece solo gallery exhibit in January 2023. This body of work reflects my personal growth, combining inventive poses, vibrant colors, botanicals, and affirmations.

 

In my "wonky world" series, I let my intuition guide me, creating multidimensional faces that reflect my soul on the page. This series is a playground where I explore and expand my artistic boundaries, using materials like inks, charcoal, oil pastels, collage, and dried flowers. Every piece is a dialogue between my inner world and the canvas.

 

My art is my truth. It’s a reflection of my journey, my resilience, and my belief in the power of creation. When others connect with my work, when they see their own stories in the colors and shapes, I’ve laid down, it makes every struggle worthwhile. My art is my contribution to the world, a testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the shared human experience. It’s a reminder that even when life sets limitations, we have the power to create something beautiful and meaningful.