I’ve always been an emotionally sensitive person, and when I reached adolescence I felt quite stretched and strained by turbulence in my inner experience. Like anyone who suffers, I was looking for a way out. A better experience. I tried all sorts of things to help ease my mental friction. I picked up some good habits along the way as well as some not-so-good habits. Creating art was one of my healthier habits, and although I had already been doing it consistently since I was very young, it really came in handy throughout my transition into adulthood. My mind became quieter and I felt more engaged while I was in the process of translating my imagination into something more tangible.

My journey with art evolved closely alongside my own inner journey of finding meaning and direction in life. In some of my darkest moments, I found solace and peace listening to music or looking at a poignant piece of art. There was something about the experience of beauty and connection that tickled a deeper part of me. I gravitated towards the word “love” as it seemed to combine those other two words nicely and served as a north star guiding me out of repeated patterns of mental and physical suffering. I had a strong impulse to convey the subtleties of my feelings and experiences through drawing and painting. I share this artwork in hopes that it may inspire and connect with others in their own journey of healing and inner transformation.

- Reece