I came to painting at a time of transition--when my father who lived with me was moved into memory care and I was also learning to navigate life as a new empty nester mom. What began as a single painting for my dad’s new apartment, became the spark for a deeper creative calling. Art offered me both solace and expression--a way to make sense of love, loss, and change when words fell short. Painting has become not only a creative outlet but also my safe place--a space to feel, escape, and breathe. It’s where my emotions settle and find their way into color and texture.