For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to artistic pursuits. From drawing, to poetry, to photography (and many things in between), I felt a constant pull and I had a keen desire to be surrounded by art at all times, whether active or passive. I know now that I’ve always been an artist, not just someone who is art adjacent. I’ve also come to realize that my life-long struggle with verbal communication has really shaped my connection to and relationship with art.
Case in point, this formal-ish writing style when what I really wanted was a friendly tone and informal style 😅. But I digress (cue long suffering sigh 😂). Anyway, lately I’ve finally been feeling wholly centered in my identity as an artist, as a creative. And I am grateful for finally feeling some alignment within myself. After growing up with a lot of environmental instability (trauma et al) and then receiving a late AuDHD diagnosis at 31, life has been a little bit of a rollercoaster. Made even harder by being unaware of the reason behind my lifelong struggle with direct verbal communication in a world filled with indirect subtext – the horror 😱.
But yeah, here I am. Doing my best to express myself and all this intense emotion that I hold in my heart – the good, the bad, and the in-between – by connecting with others through art in ways that heal me, ways that rebuild my connection to myself, to others, and to my communities overall. Because of this, I now know that my strengths reside in visual communication through imagery and I want to use that strength not only to help others but also to keep carving out a life for myself full of art, expression, creativity, healing, and community.
By the by, I’m based in Southern Illinois but willing to travel for new friends 😊. When I’m not deeply involved in my various special interests and hyperfixations – like making neuroaffirming art & stickies – you can find me reading my favorite romances (basically, smut), watching a comfort show with a tasty cuppa, or playing my fave videogames (hzd and ff7 fans ftw!).
