When I was young, making art was one of the only things that could hold my interest. Actually, it was so good at holding my interest that I would frequently lose my sense of time, zoned in on the drawing of the week for hours. I drew things that interested me, and my work therefore varied in subject matter and style. The reason that art making held my attention was because I really loved doing it, and it relieved the stress that I was living with.
As a kid, I knew I was a little weird. I was pretty commonly bullied. This made going to school or other regular kid things really nerve wracking. However, when I made art and was able to find a calm, focused space in my mind, it allowed me some relief. I’m not sure if the subject matter had much to do with it then; it was the act of creating itself, rather than what I was drawing, that helped me cope.
When I was diagnosed with ADHD while pursuing a BFA at the University of Regina, my connection to creativity was completely recontextualized. Making art is my most important tool to cope with my existence as a neurodivergent, traumatized queer person. I’ve always used it that way, even if I didn’t always realize.
Although I have explored many forms of making art, I have been somewhat focused on acrylic painting since 2020. Instead of creating preliminary sketches, I prefer to begin without plans and let my intuition guide the way. This continues to lead to varied subject matter as I explore the capabilities of the medium while consciously allowing myself to relax and let my emotions spill onto my canvas. As I move forward as an emerging artist, I intend to keep my mind open to all possibilities that support my authentic practice. Art is essential self care for me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.