A bit about me.
You don’t need expensive paints, brand-name brushes, or a professional space to work. You don't need to wait for inspiration to strike to elevate the value of your work. And you don’t need an art degree or special credentials to be taken seriously..
Just start.
I truly believe that with the right attitude, determination, and intentions in the right place, you are on your way to making great work.
I often reflect on my experiences and memories from school. It was the cornerstone of my personal growth and launching block into the career I pursue today. Going to school to study art does not make you an artist. I believe it can completely evolve your understanding of our history, skill set, and relationship to your community but you do not need to hold a degree to take yourself or your work seriously. However, establishing the proper network to support and guide you is essential. And I began to establish mine through my professors, fellow art majors and minors, and students of varying departments outside of the arts. This set the tone of my four year journey in discovering and confronting my own thoughts, opinions, and mistakes.
The time had come to move out of my dorm room, away from that beautiful campus, and return home for the last time. Quieting the sounds of graduation day as I drove away as a student for the very last time - It’s cold misty morning, we all were so nervous, tired and emotionally everywhere. I can still hear the ringing of bagpipes that led us down in a buzzing, but quiet march in May, we walked the path we first took our Freshman year at the end orientation week. An end to a ritualistic ceremony coming full circle. I was a the front of the line of 100s of beaming graduates, all cautiously excited for what was to come in that perfect ceremony and introduction to an imperfect world as independents once again.
The last four years of my identity abruptly completed. I will forever cherish that life I was able to share and build and rebuild with my community of friends, who found each other in the struggle of academia and independence. My reflections on these memories still bring a smile to my face and nostalgic flutters in my heart.
My return home was like jumping into the deep end of a very icy cold pool of water. Shocking, quiet, and numbing from over stimulation and isolation from the family I had packed into boxes and said goodbye to. Knowing the distance would be our next obstacle to face together, and that we would loose some along the way.
It was time to start over and face new opportunities of growth.
New beginnings had awaited me. I took some time off from painting with existential burnout from completing my senior capstone - my “sabbatical” as some friends would call it. Within that first summer home, I was approached with a commission to illustrate a children’s book series and quickly dove into educating myself and exploring a new career as an illustrator. I also began my first official job as the Advancement Director and high school teacher at a local non-profit, private school. Positions I never expected to fall in love with, fundraising, donor networking, and working with high schoolers. The opportunity to hold and maintain a schedule - although difficult, which allows me to be creative quickly became a value I have held fast too.
This practice of creating feeds my soul and brings me joy. I have learned over the years that no matter your expertise, background, skill set, whatever - we are meant to create. The greatest thing humankind is capable of is our ability to make.
Our minds and souls are meant to explore and grow. Art is my form of worship and meditation, offering peace and beauty in this life I am living. I encourage you to find such joy in your gifts.
As artist, our beginnings are not always immediate creative success or obvious we’re moving down the “right path”. Sometimes we need to pry ourselves from ego and pride and start over completely humbled. There are high and dry spells in my work, seasons of immense creative flow and great struggle. But I am always reminded of where I started and how much growth has seasoned my practice, myself, and my work. We, as creatives - as humans, must always remember to just start and keep going.
