It was the only space that allowed me to wholeheartedly express my emotions and process my thoughts.

And then, conditioning set in.

The grades I received in my art classes reinforced the belief I wasn’t good enough. I vividly remember having a B in my fourth grade art class and asking for an extra credit assignment to boost it up. I was asked to pick an artist, write a report and select one of their drawings to replicate .

From that moment, I stopped pursuing art.

When I did, I abandoned a piece of myself.

Last year, I reconnected to my long lost love and immediately felt whole. I realized that I spent my life prioritizing the opinions of others at the sacrifice of my own. I opted to feel unfulfilled and hollow. “Never again” I told myself. I vowed to never abandon any part of myself.

My art is rooted in my experiences, stories, and learnings. My hope is it will bring a smile to your face, wrap you in a warm embrace, inspire you to believe in yourself just a little bit more, and always choose you.