Creating art often feels like a race against time—especially when a piece comes together in a few hours or days and I get that immediate satisfaction of seeing it finished. But I’ve learned I don’t really choose to be “fast” or “slow” with my paintings. The subject matter decides that for me. Some ideas naturally stay loose and simple, and they’re done quickly. Others demand more—more layers, more careful blending, more tiny decisions—and they take as long as they take. This

I didn't sit down to make a "good" painting. I sat down because I was overwhelmed with guilt, regret, and sadness. With no plan and no idea what to paint, I let my emotions guide my brush and discovered how painting can become a form of meditation. I felt intense sadness and helplessness, mixed with guilt and anger. The emotions were overpowering and all-consuming. My usual response in those moments would be to bury the feelings deep down or buffer them with unhealthy habits.

Some paintings begin with a clear idea. With this one, I knew from the start that I wanted to paint my middle child, the baseball player—but I had no plan for the background. It started as a swirl of color and feeling, and only later did I realize it was telling the story of my own inner world. “Baseball Player” – mixed media, sports/kids collection With the baseball player, I wasn't sure if the mood I was conveying was reflective of