As a multimedia artist, I explore a variety of different materials. Learning a new medium or technique is an exciting part of the process. Experimenting with combining media and watching how they interact makes me think about all the endless possibilities. The way I used to work, dry mediums were for sketching and planning, while I saved wet mediums for bigger stand-alone work. As I’ve grown, I've altered this type of thinking with the help of multimedia sketchbooks and an excess of supplies so they’re always accessible. 

While I can create my own world through painting, there's something about capturing the perfect moment through a photograph that makes it equally as special. The littlest things in life make me happy, which is why a large amount of my photography is insects going about their day and nature scenes. Struggling with clinical depression since elementary school, I spend more time than I should wishing I was something else, whether it be a butterfly living amongst the flowers or a hundred-year-old maple tree. Humans are so immersed in ourselves that we’ve lost touch with where we truly came from, the Earth. This is why I enjoy capturing things from a unique angle, as it’s something humans caught up in the built world may never see. When recognizing and appreciating beauty, I’ve noticed I’m drawn into the small details that others struggle to see. While I do my best to render all the details I can, sometimes it's just not possible to do with paint, so I never limit myself to one medium.

 While some of my creations focus on beauty, the majority of my paintings are a reflection of my feelings, which tend to be dark. In the past, I often didn’t realize what the meaning of my works were until after they were finished, but nowadays most paintings are planned out and I’m a lot more aware of how my mind works. My artwork is reminiscent of contemporary artist Myriam Tillson, as her distorted figures usually tell a story of anguish, discomfort, or suffering. A similar theme we share is depicting bald, sexless human figures. This is my way of representing a person who is nothing but a soul, a single being who can represent all people. 

 As my hEDS symptoms have started to manifest, physical pain has become more prevalent in my artwork. Chronic pain often affects my mental state, not only by being discouraging, but increasing my anxiety about the future. While I’m chronically aware of how my body is different from others, my disability is not visible. Having a rare condition such as hEDS, I strive to educate others through my work and build community with those also struggling.