I’ve always been fascinated by what gives things soul, and my artwork uses glowing elements to explore how life is conveyed through the things we can see, like light and color. I’ve always struggled under the pressure of perfectionism, but I aspire to escape from it through my art by creating imperfect, human pieces. Making art in this playful style helps me more easily express the emotions I’m trying to convey in my work.

I create paintings using watercolors and acrylic paint, but my favorite medium has to be oil paint. It has a mind of its own, and I find that the blends of rich colors it creates are what make a piece truly magical. I chose to challenge myself with acrylics for this piece, but I used a spray bottle to constantly keep the paint wet, which allowed me to proceed like I would with oils.

This painting is inspired by photographs of my cousins and I dancing at a family gathering many years ago. I wanted to convey what it felt like to dance in front of everyone without the worry of being judged by others. This boldness faded as I grew up, but I wanted to bring back a little slice of it with some bright lights, colorful dresses, and multicolored spotlights contrasted by the less colorful reality of my present world.