Since I can remember, art has been core to who I am. I have always appreciated artworks from different artists, locations, eras, styles, mediums, subject matter, etc., because they tell a story. I love connecting works of art with the creators and what influenced them, including the materials used, the time used to create it, and the cultural influence. 

I formally studied art and design and college, which taught me technique, but left me stuck with the rules of what’s “good” and “bad” or what’s “right” and “wrong.” When it comes to drawing technique, what I learned from formal instruction is represented in my first piece, “Benjamin: Before We Met.” — this was my perspective when it came to creating art prior to experiencing my first seizure. It was sometimes rigid and overanalyzed, which robbed me of some of the pleasure. I just didn’t know what I was missing. I didn’t “meet” Benjamin artistically until I could shatter those self-imposed rules. 

When I had my first seizure and received my diagnosis at 27, I initially felt my freedom, independence, and liberties; in a sense, my identity was stolen. To my surprise, I’m discovering a license to be flexible without the previously held creative limitations. I’m still navigating through this foreign and very welcomed experience. My epilepsy has helped me explore art in a way that is authentic to who I am, and for that, I am grateful!