I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. While I have always been more drawn to drawing than painting, my style has slowly evolved over the years to include experimenting with gouache and watercolor. At the core of my practice, though, is a love for realism and the challenge of perfecting the details that make a piece come alive.

During college, I put much of my personal work on hold while focusing on the art I had to create for classes. When COVID hit, I suddenly had more free time, and I returned to realistic drawing, even taking on commission work. What began as drawing people’s pets quickly grew into something larger, and I feel lucky that others value my work enough to invest in it.

My main approach to both creating and teaching art is rooted in exploration. As a perfectionist, I can sometimes feel discouraged when a piece doesn’t turn out the way I envisioned right away. But I’ve learned that my best work happens when I push through those moments, trusting that mistakes are part of the process and always lead to growth.

Technically, my drawings begin with projecting an image onto paper to create a quick outline sketch. From there, a piece can take anywhere from 7 to 14 hours to complete. I’ve also learned the importance of pacing myself—if I create too many drawings in a row, I burn out. By slowing down and honoring my process, I’ve found a more sustainable way to create meaningful work.