Art has always been my way of navigating life. When I couldn’t find the words, I found color. When things felt overwhelming, I turned to the canvas. Painting became not just a practice, but a lifeline, a way to work through grief, stress, and the changes life brings. Over the years, I discovered that abstraction gave me the freedom I was searching for. Instead of trying to capture the world as it looks, I could express how it feels. I build my paintings in layers, starting with blocked-in shapes that ground the composition, then letting intuition take over with mark making, depth, and movement. Each piece becomes a conversation between control and surrender, mirroring the balance I’m always seeking in my own life. I often work with acrylics, plaster, ink, and collage, creating texture and energy that invite the viewer closer. My paintings hold pieces of my story, joy, loss, resilience, but I never want them to only be about me. I want each person to step into the work and feel their own story reflected back. I’ve shown in galleries such as Franklin Gallery in Southport, and my work has been recognized with awards including Best in Show at the Brunswick Art Council. But the greatest honor is when someone tells me, “That painting feels like me.” That moment of connection is why I paint.