“My style is distinct with bold shapes, smooth lines, and saturated colors; yet adaptable in the way that I bend my style to fit my desired theme. As I create, I learn and experiment with different techniques and mediums. While digital drawing is my preferred method, I have a range of abilities in mediums including traditional drawing, oil or acrylic painting, woodblock printmaking, ceramics, and graphic design. I mostly make representational art with a focus on characters and animals.

I don’t create art with the goal of expressing some complex emotion, telling a grand story, or to earn fame and money. Rather, I have three artistic goals that stem from three personal motivations.

The first motivation is the emotion that I feel when I find my next subject, and that emotion is awe. I search for beauty in the world around me, creativity in the art I consume, and uniqueness in the people I encounter. When unique, eye-catching, dynamic, emotional, and beautiful things catch my attention, they inspire me to create. The only word I can use to describe what I feel when I’m in this inspired state is “awe.”

My second motivation is my desire to express who I am inside and who I want to be. Some artists would do this by putting their emotions into their art. On the other hand, I express who I am through what I like, how I dress, things that I do, and the skills I work to perfect. These are most obvious within my self portraits and characters that I base on myself. On a deeper level, who I am influences every piece I make. I express who I am by how I depict any subject I feel inspired by, and the way I shape my own life is inspired by this introspective process. The more art I create, the more I learn about myself.

The third motivation I have to create is simply the process of creation itself. Improving upon a skill is a reward in and of itself. I am always willing to learn something new when it comes to art, whether that be a new medium or a new technique in a medium I am already familiar with. It excites me to try new things as well as to depict subjects that I haven’t before. My mind is often occupied with ideas for new characters, creatures, or aesthetics. On the other hand, even an artistic process that I’m very familiar with can be enjoyable and relaxing. Crafting, although diverse, can be a simple and accessible creative escape when I need it. Generally, when my hands are busy and my mind is creatively stimulated, I feel happy.”