Starting Over

It's been forever and a day since my last blog post but the past year has been challenging.

A year ago this month, I was diagnosed with DCIS, an early stage form of breast cancer that was caught through a regular screening mammogram. Needless to say, the diagnosis was the scariest thing I ever experienced but thankfully I was successfully treated through surgery in September.
Leading up to my diagnosis and surgery, I was already experiencing burnout from my previous body of work of Inkscape photographs and digital portrait collages. I think the isolation of the pandemic and relying on a computer screen for social interaction made me realize how much I missed holding a paintbrush or a pencil and feeling the texture of cold-press paper on my fingertips. I realized I wanted to go back to painting and drawing again.

Untitled. Ink on watercolor paper

My craving to take a new direction with my art came at a time when I was starting a new phase of my life after diagnosis and surgery. Over time, I started developing a style of figurative art drawings and paintings that explore and challenge what it means to feel whole again. What I've been creating has been characterized by loose, overlapping bold lines, full-figured asymmetrical figures and interpretations of mythological beings, and of course, bold color. Honoring and examining my imperfections through painting and drawing has been enormously healing.

I've been composing this email for many months in my head; I was so nervous about divulging such personal news and showing this new change in my practice. While sharing this is deeply personal, it would be impossible for me to move into this new journey without explaining the inspiration behind it.
While I have been publishing my work on Instagram, I plan on restarting my blog to develop a more connected experience with my audience. In the meantime, I've added some of my originals to my online store. Special thank you to my newest collectors who have purchased my new work! Your support means so much.

And thank you for taking the time to read this. I am most grateful. That’s it for now.