All of my work comes from something in my own life. When it comes to painting, most of my references are personal photographs. I like to represent the people and places in my life that I hold close to my heart. If I’m not connected to the work in one way or another, it will either never get done, or it will turn out bad.

I am a planner. I try to plan every detail on Notability and/or Procreate using my iPad. Once I feel that I have a solid idea, it’s time to get everything done. When working on a sculptural piece, there is no lack of patience. I will work on those for days at a time. On the contrary, when it comes to painting or drawing, I have not an ounce of patience. I like to get those done in one sitting, without interruption. Another essential part of my process involves music, what I’m wearing, and what is happening around me. I need to listen to music while I work, because not only does it keep my brain stimulated and allows for no technological distractions but, depending on what piece I am working on, the music must fit the vibe or emotions of said piece. That way, I stay in the mindset of the work. It’s all about mindset.

It began in my sophomore year of high school when I took a human physiology course. I was sort of into sketching and drawing but had never seriously considered it as a career, yet. I was drawing an anatomically correct heart just for fun but had stopped working on it about halfway through. Fast forward about a year, right before the COVID-19 quarantine, I refound the drawing and decided to finish it, this time without reference. I just let myself flow and everything that was going on at the time in my head disappeared and I was solely focused on this drawing. As my senior year approached, I started painting and drawing more and knew I had to come to a decision about university. I ended up getting a job working at my local museum, the Triton Museum of Art. I began to admire the Executive Director, Preston, and had been told he studied art history. He seemed to have flexible work hours, and I loved the idea that with the job he had, he was with artists all the time. That’s when I decided to study art history, and luckily, the school I ended up choosing, San Francisco State University, has a double concentration: Studio Art and Art History, as well as a Museum Studies minor program.

I wish I could say I had a plan, but I don’t. My main goal is to be happy. I know that to be happy, I need to be able to do what I want to do. I want to live somewhere warm, near a beach where I am making a good living to support my shopping addiction and make sure I can see my family and friends often. And, I’m hoping I end up doing something that supports my creative passions.