30-day Flower Challenge, 2019

In July 2019, I dove into one of the 30-day drawing challenges that pops up all the time on social media. For me it was more than just an excuse to practice drawing; it was a method to get disciplined, sort and express my thoughts, and reinvigorate my love of creating art. To help set the tone and add a layer of personal meaning, I paired each piece with a song.

Every day, along with my kitten Caspian (pictured right), I looked inward and sat with my feelings, doing minimal preplanning and being open to serendipity and new experiences. With a spark of inspiration, I released myself on paper through a flower and through a song. Sometimes the flower influenced the song choice and, sometimes, the opposite. Through music, I heard stories that I could connect with and through my art, I found people connecting with me. As time went on, I found that I was more confident with laying down my lines, on paper as well as within myself. These challenges are a type of mediation, a moment for growth and healing.