It felt like every piece of my identity had been stripped away, leaving me lost and hollow.

I never thought I could believe in myself, or anything, ever again.

But instead of caving in, I dove headfirst into deep inner work.

Therapy, men’s groups, and new mentors that challeneged me to let go of the past.

I began peeling back the layers of despiar to reveal something brighter underneath.

I discovered a whole lot about myself and the choices I was making unconsciously-mostly because of hurt I had suffered in the past.

Once I saw that, everything began to shift.

So guess what I decided to do?

I painted!

I made art that reflected my journey, and it gave me permission to believe in myself again.

I remembered that creating art wasn’t about perfection, but self expression, and that I had something worth sharing.

And by letting go of perfection, I discovered a painting process that didn't fight against flaws but celebrated them.

I finally learned how to go with the flow.

The vivid flowers, trees and landscapes of this collection exploded out of a heart that was now overflowing with growing optimism.