The spark for a paint series:

I started writing a novel in February of 2024. It was something that was really just playtime for me, but it kind of took over. If I had a downbeat, a slow moment in my day, I was working on it. It was only ever going to be for me, until I started to feel like, huh, I'm onto something. And then I had this burning desire to see my characters—not just in my mind's eye.

So, eventually, I landed on doing my own acrylic painting. Moreover, painting has always been patiently waiting for me on the back burner.

My relationship with paint started very humbly. Just, you know, set your kid down in front of some easy-clean paint and paper—keep ’em occupied. But then, I'd ask for more paint, more visual media, happily. I would go to friends' houses and spend a good chunk of my time drawing and painting.

I remember being really frustrated one day with how my drawings were turning out, and a childhood friend said, in all seriousness, “Have you tried to just make it better?” And that was all I needed to hear to start looking with a more studious eye—to figure out what was missing, improve my forms, and develop the skill. I've not dialed in realism by any means, but I have some conceptual knowledge and technical awareness.

Through high school and college, I would carve out time to paint. I would suggest it as a hangout opportunity and just never shied away from it. I was also blessed to have visual artists at my local church who would host paint fellowship days. We'd be at my pastor's house, drink boba tea, and paint.

So, long story short: I've been painting.

No formal training. Just fun.

But somehow, I got hit with the I-need-to-be-doing-this-all-the-time-itis. Earlier this summer, I had gone to a gothic art market and saw this insanely great oil painter just sit and paint all day. My heart was screaming at me that I wanted to be that person. I stuffed the desire down, only for a few weeks, really, until I imploded. It was a done deal.

I started a painting one weekend that consumed me—and had this moment of, I want to do just this. I want an art career.

I spoke with my husband and said, “I’m just going to make art.”

So here is my big leap of faith moment. I am unapologetically showing up in the visual art space.