Change & Inspiration

It’s impossible to look around at the world right now and avoid the feeling that it’s all falling apart. So many things are falling apart. We are living through a period of incredible transformation and it can be hard to live it and understand it all at once.

The word “transformation,” when read on a screen, feels so distant and hyperbolic - like something you study in science by observing butterflies and tadpoles. In truth, transformation is a grueling process marked by shedding, breakdown and complete reconfiguration. To transform is to shift from one state or form to an entirely different state or form. It is an act of going beyond what you know yourself to be into uncharted territory. To become something new, you have to let go of so much of what’s familiar. It is incredibly unpleasant, and requires intense vulnerability. Yet, most of life’s magic happens in transformation. It gets hidden in plain sight because we can’t quite comprehend transformation when we are in the midst of it, yet the magic is perfectly clear when something new and splendid emerges. Metamorphosis is a radical exercise in destruction, inspiration and creativity.

The ability to reconfigure and adapt is evidence of humanity's great power to influence and be influenced by the world around us. I find the same true of creating art. It is a powerful means by which we are influenced by and exert influence over our experience of this world. Art is where intention and action intersect to become a tool for expression, reflection, making connections, grounding and even meditation. Through creative practice you can relate deeply to the idea transformation as making art is, at essence, transforming ideas into reality. And when you start to associate transformation with the potential of your imagination, the unknown becomes less scary and more inspiring.

Now more than ever, we need to find ways to shift out of fear when we are confronted with change. Instead, we need to learn to cultivate inspiration.

Feeling inspired is its own brand of magic. It uplifts our minds and spirits. It activates our sense of innovation and hope for the future, and when we feel inspired, it’s contagious. Inspiration is a powerful tool in times like these, because it gives us something we want to strive for. Fortunately, inspiration is an infinite resource and can be accessed easily with a little practice.  My own art practice is an alchemical ritual in which I transmute all of my fears, questions, curiosities, beliefs and inspirations into a visual language that I can share. It is an activation of my mind, my subconscious and my physical senses, while also being an exercise in play and experimentation. A consistent art practice can cultivate critical thinking and a sense of fresh perspective. It can also be a liberating reminder of your power in creating and shaping your life, no matter what changes you face.

The Language of Paint

Creating art is an essential form of communication for me. Painting is the language I use to relate to the world around me, especially during times when words fail me. Growing up with ADHD, I often found it difficult to articulate the overwhelming emotions and constant flow of thoughts that clouded my mind. Instead of being sidelined by my struggles, I gravitated toward visual art, which has become my preferred method of expression. Over the years, my creative practice has evolved into a sacred ritual—an opportunity to reflect, meditate, and explore my experiences.

I am constantly working to visualize the indescribable, ephemeral elements of life. My process is inspired by the ways in which we connect to each other, how we form identity, how we engage with our experiences, and the meaning we create out of it all. I want to immortalize the quiddity of the human experience through my work.

I work to uncover the beauty within them. I see myself as an alchemist who makes gold out of raw earth. I conjure loveliness from things from confusing and unexpected places. I want to make beautiful the things that are hard for us to approach, accept or comprehend. I want to entice and inspire you to think and feel through a visual experience.

The Evolution of Art & Storytelling

Art and storytelling have been a part of humanity since the beginning. As soon as people became self-aware, they began to find ways to share their experiences. In ancient times, storytelling was primarily an oral tradition, starting around 200,000 BCE when spoken language emerged.

This practice became a ritual in many culture, passing down important information to future generations. People would gather around campfires or in public venues, creating communities through shared stories. This fostered deeper collaboration, societal advancement, and structured belief systems.

By 40,800 BCE, storytelling had taken an interesting turn. It’s in this time period that we start seeing the first cave paintings, showing a distinct shift in human expression into the earliest examples of visual art. This quickly changed the game in storytelling and the purpose they served within the community. Instead of stories that focused on instruction based knowledge, visual stories also highlighted how people experienced and understood their world from a metaphorical perspective. Art became a way of making meaning as well as sharing a deeper understanding of the world with others.

Art has always revolved around intricate relationships and meaningful connections to the people, places, and experiences that surround us.

Because art possesses a unique ability to relay the less tangible and often elusive elements of life, it becomes a powerful and impactful format for metaphor. This creative medium allows us to bend and shape our realities, providing a means to communicate our deepest hopes, dreams, fears, and fantasies. Telling a story visually opens up a realm where the use of color, composition, and style can come together harmoniously to express complex ideas in a language that is far older than any written form of communication.

Art continues to serve as a vital conduit for expression, influencing how we perceive and interact with the world around us. Art possesses a profound impact as a universal language that transcends barriers, connecting individuals and communities through shared experiences and emotions. Visual storytelling taps into the essence of our humanity, allowing us to convey complex narratives in a way that resonates deeply with others. Our culture continues to revolve around aesthetics and visual material, influencing everything from social movements to personal identity. As we engage with art, we not only celebrate creativity but also cultivate an environment where ideas thrive, ultimately inspiring growth and understanding in our society.

The Art of Living

Why Life is Your Greatest Masterpiece

Life is defined by oxford dictionary as, “the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.” I think the definition for human life can be expanded to include creativity, imagination and intentional action.

We think, imagine, and create, turning our view of the world into inspiration, new ideas, and art.

It’s more accurate to say that life is art. But, that’s only if you treat it that way.

It takes reflection, intention and action to create anything, especially a beautiful life. In the centuries of commerce, capitalism and consumerism, we have started to conflate art with the explicit act of creation, but it is far more transcendent than that. Art is more than a word or object, it is a tool we employ to give and share meaning. It is a language in which we speak about what inspires us. Being artful is a way of perceiving, living with a focus on intentionally cultivating beauty and meaning in each moment.

Art and life are tightly woven together and have been throughout human history. Expressing ideas through creativity, or art, is one of the oldest human practices. It’s deeply linked to other elements of societal evolution, including magic (which pre-dated the sciences), spirituality, and religion. To make and share art in any of its forms is to engage with a long history of creative expression, storytelling, community building and culture creation.

Yet, in our current world, it all feels increasingly superficial.

We consume aesthetic content marketed as art to distract us from the content of our lives. All the while the contemporary art world is screaming “art is life,” while whispering, “but only if you can pay for it.”

You can apply this way of thinking and behaving to your whole life. Every day, you are shaping your experience from moment to moment. With every choice, thought and action you take, you are conjuring what your life looks and feels like.

When you shift to seeing life as an endless act of creativity, you can make it into something that suits your tastes - something that feels like a well crafted work of art. You become the artist, decisively crafting beauty throughout your entire existence. Living this way also enhances your admiration for the intentions and creations of others. It is an individually rewarding practice that also pulls you more fully into the collective of humanity through your active participation in the human experience.

The artistry of the universe is that we are all bound by this shared ability to imagine and be inspired. More than anything else, art is distinguished by the inspiration it elicits in others, and the connection it makes possible. We only grow closer and stronger when we share in it fully, and our whole world can become as beautiful as we are willing to make it.