January the 4th 2019 was the day I found the courage to listen to that little voice encouraging me to try. That day I not only picked up my camera but also placed myself in front of it. And as we all know beginnings can be quite shitty. I created so much bad art before breaking through and creating art that I love. Despite all this, I look back at my past work with pride - yes, the early cringy work too, because they're all stepping stones in the journey. And I'm certain this year will also have its own repertoire of failures to learn from. In hindsight, the most profound change has been the personal growth that came with it. I finally trust my own voice and intuition. I've discovered more about myself during these two years than I have during the prior thirty-five. I might still be that awkward and indecisive girl but the difference is now I know my worth. "Regeneration" Self-portrait - January 2021 • • • • • • • • • • • • •

My favorites vs IG best nine ☺️ Thank you so much for all the love and support! Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful year ahead.❤️ • • • • • • • • • •

In today’s overstimulated and connected lives, I find spending time alone in silence comforting. It allows me to think without interruption, reflect, or get lost in daydreams. It is in those moments I discover the best parts of myself. • • • • • • • • • • •

The best advice I got when I started out was to embrace my artistic journey and the failures that come with it. I really took it to heart. I make mistakes and I will keep making mistakes. This goes beyond the realm of art, I’m human after all. The courage part is to keep trying and keep showing up in whatever you are pursuing. So here’s another mixed media piece. • • • • • • •

I've seen a few other artist be brave by posting their failures, so here’s mine. This week has been rather messy, I've done three photoshoots, yes three, and not managed to create anything that pleases my eye. I don't know if it's my inner critic that's grown in size or what? So this morning I decided it's time to cut my losses and move on. Failures are part of the process so this won't stop me from trying mixed media again. “Untitled” Self-Portrait Nov. 2020, photography and acrylic paint • • • • • • • • •

“Never be afraid to fall apart because it is an opportunity to rebuild yourself the way you wish you had been all along.” • • • • • • • • Quote by Rae Smith

Let fall remind you that change is beautiful! My last image in this series which is inspired by emotional turbulence and the art of letting go, which I think nature so eloquently displays for us this time of the year. Let go of anything that’s not serving you.🍂 • • • • • • • • • • • • •

World Mental Health Day 💚 Let’s end the stigma of mental illness. • • • Repost • • • • • • • • • • •

This is one of those images I shot on a whim, something I often do when shooting for another image. I walk around my location to see if there’s any interesting places, or just to enjoy my surroundings. When I spotted this place I thought of a portal to a peaceful place, where nature reminds me of the beauty in change. 🍂 • • • • • • • • • • • • •

“It is within yourself that you will find the strength you need” • • • • • •

Some days being emotional is my superpower while other times it’s a curse. 🦋 • • • • • • • •

“Monsters don’t sleep under your bed, they sleep inside your head” -unknown • • • • • •

“Behind The Frame” • • An image that portrays the difficulties of living with anxiety, depression or other mental illness. The society we’ve constructed isn’t made for mental health. One can be seen as happy on the outside but in reality be falling apart on the inside. • • Sending you all a little love! 💛 • • • • • • • • •

“We think caged birds sing when indeed they cry” -unknown • • “Gilded Cages” • • •

“Some days I am more wolf than a woman and I am still learning how to stop apologising for my wild” -Nikita Gill • • • • • • • • • Poem by @nikita_gill

“Whispers” One of my favorite things to do is to find a place in the forest and just sit and listen. It’s amazing how many sounds you’ll hear in the most quiet places. Even as I created this image, being occupied with my camera and all, I couldn’t help but to occasionally stop and just observe the beauty and listen to the amazing sounds that nature offers. Nature truly is the place where I find myself the days I feel lost. • • •

“If you are blessed with a vision stay true to it” -k.tolnoe • • • Quote by @k.tolnoe

“Bluebird 2” • • • Reposting this after a few corrections. • •

“Bluebird” • • Birds are such beautiful animals and ever since we’ve put up bird feeders I’ve learned to appreciate them even more. Their song and the flutter of their wings brings me joy. So when I found this dead bluebird I knew I wanted to give it life in a new way. • • •

“Hope is what you do when wishes don’t work. Hope is what you do when they tell you there is no hope. You take a deep a breath and you do it anyway.” -Shane Koyczan • • “Hope”, the final image in this mini-series “The Darkest Moments”. • • •

The second image of this mini-series “The darkest moments” 🥀🥀🥀 I sat this morning debating whether I should post this one or not. It’s dark and sad. And even though dark and moody is my style I sometimes find it scary to post images like this. 🥀🥀🥀 Maybe deep down I’m afraid of people’s reactions. Maybe I’m afraid of labels. Or maybe I’m afraid it reveals something about me or my past. 🥀🥀🥀 However, in the end I chose to share because maybe someone out there will feel less lonely. • • •

“We’re all just trying to outrun the monster...” Shane Koyczan • • An image that portrays the feeling of drowning in a dark abyss. It might feel overwhelming and unending but with resilience you can rise. • • •

“The process of healing does not end when the wounds are no longer visible it ends when the wounds no longer ache” - unknown • • “Necrosis”, this is the third and last image of the mini-series Blooms Of Burden. • • •

This is the second image of the mini-series “Blooms Of Burden”. • • I’m having a hard time finding words today so I’ll be sharing a quote from @johnmarkgreenpoetry 🥀 “ It’s the things we carry silently within ourselves which are the heaviest burdens” • • •

“Blooms Of Burden” This is about the burdens we carry through life and how hard it is to let go. We carry them around, covering them up with our armor, hiding them from the world to show we’re fine. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sometimes people tell me my images are very dark and sad, which is different from my personality. But I know pain. Everyone knows pain. And there has been moments in my life when pain has felt unending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Art has always been part of my healing in some shape or form. However, it wasn’t until I started creating myself that I found the missing piece of the puzzle, and found a way to channel pain into something beautiful. • • May is Mental Health Awareness Month. • • •

“Fluttering dreams” I finally finished this image, it’s been on the back burner for some time and I almost gave up on it. Sometimes ideas just don’t work visually and they need to be changed, I’m ok with that as long as I keep the same concept. This is certainly one of them, I’ve probably went through every possible color combination until I finally found one that pleased my eye. I’m glad I stayed persistent since this turned out to be one of my favorite images. • • •

They said her time was over only to realize she was just getting started. • • •

“Time is flying never to return” How do you spend yours? ⏰ • • •

“You must embrace fear you must let fear consume you and overpower you and take you to the brink where it almost cripples you but on the other side of fear, as long as you act, there’s something beautiful, real and wonderful waiting for you” -A.Bentley • • •

“There is no self-discovery without pain and loss. Tears unveil hidden parts of your soul” -Anita Krizzan • • •