1. What methods or practices have helped you most effectively refine your artistic voice?
Drawing every day – or as often as possible – has been crucial in refining my artistic voice.
I’ve found that drawing in different places, at different times, and using a variety of stimuli helps
me break out of routine and see my work from fresh perspectives. To refine one’s practice, there
has to be something to refine, so I make sure to keep it going. Every drawing, whether it’s a
quick sketch or a more developed piece, contributes to understanding what resonates with me
and my creative process. It’s in that consistency and variety that I’ve found my voice evolving.
2. Can you share a moment when expressing your artistic identity led to a significant opportunity or connection?
One significant moment that stands out is when I submitted a painting to “On Your Face:
Queer Reflections” exhibition at the Glynn Vivian. My piece was selected and later featured as
Exhibition of the week by The Guardian. It was a powerful affirmation that taking something
personal and blowing it up big can give a piece strong presence. It was also meaningful as I got
to respond to a piece of work from the collection that I resonated with on a deep and sort of
vunerable level. The mention from The Guardian, as well as the exhibition in a public gallery
both brought my art to wider audiences.
More recently, expressing my artistic identity has opened up doors in ways that have shaped
how I approach my work and it’s place in the world. A particularly impactful moment was when I
connected with Karen from the VAA – whose guidance has been valuable in helping me think
more practically about how my work can “gel” with my environment. Our conversations have
encouraged me to think about how my art can find it’s place within the broader art world.
3. How has overcoming personal challenges shaped the way you approach and communicate your art?
Struggles with my identity, mental health, and relationships have deeply influenced the
direction of my art practice. These personal challenges have led me to explore bodily and
figurative forms in my work, as I find it grounding and comforting to draw bodies. In many ways,
the body represents resilience and transformation, which are themes I work through in my own
life. Drawing bodies allows me to create a dialogue between my inner struggles and the outside
world.
