Time has given me the opportunity to reflect.

 

Throughout my education, I struggled to learn the 'traditional' way. It took years to realize the issue wasn't my ability, but my learning style. As a creative learner, I need to connect concepts to the world and apply them hands-on. Though this path has been winding and time-consuming, it has defined my unique perspective as a self-taught artist.

 

In his book The Artisan Soul, McManus states it perfectly: "Though we may create many beautiful works of art, the most important works of art to which we will ever give ourselves are the lives we live. We are both works of art and artists at work. At first, our soul is like a canvas where others begin to paint the portrait of who we are. Slowly, as we develop and mature, we take the brush into our own hands and continue painting our own lives.

 

I believe creativity should never be defined solely by an end product. We are all creative. Let's be honest: any finished piece of art can be judged or even thrown away. Yet the beautiful process of creating is free, can never be taken from you, and has the power to change your life.

 

I grew up resenting the way I was wired, but whether I like it or not, I am an artist. Who says creative minds can’t change the world? There is no rhyme or reason to my work—no pressure to succeed and no pursuit of perfection. Without guidelines or measurements for my potential, I simply create, connect, and express myself, giving back along the way. Pretty simple, eh?