Welcome to My Madness

In which trial and error is the name of the game

A Look Inside

Growing up, I wasn’t the kid that knew who or what they wanted to be. In all honesty, I still don’t. The difference is that I’ve accepted who I am, rather than hoping to be someone I’m not.

Art has always been a part of my life, whatever level of proficiency I was at. Although I don’t remember, my mom has many memories of afternoons spent drawing with me. Throughout elementary and middle school, I took an easy approach to art – doodling on my homework and anything else I had around me when I had free time. In high school, I decided it was time to start keeping dedicated sketchbooks. Up until that point, my drawings floated around the house without a good way to keep track of my progress. Unlike some of my friends that were interested in art, I didn’t take any classes; both because of mixed reviews and my general distaste for being told what to do when I didn’t want to hear it. Outside of school, I had a family friend that did private lessons of a sort. She would let me choose a project and medium – some that we worked with included watercolors, colored pencils, charcoal, and ink pencils – and coach me through the process. This goal oriented approach worked for a few years.

Leading up to college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. Particularly in high school, but also throughout my whole life, the idea of going to college to get a bachelor’s was laser printed into my head as the right thing. Because I wanted to be a good kid, and because I had received a full ride for academic proficiency, I pressured myself into pursuing a business degree. With a volatile mix of anxiety – which I have greatly improved in managing in the last few years – not listening to my instincts, and trying to push through, that venture blew up in my face. Thinking back, I have no regrets about changing the path I headed down. It certainly wasn’t a fun experience, but it knocked some sense into me even as it knocked the wind out of me.

Now, I have just completed two associate’s degrees through Casper College – Graphic Design and Photography. The past few years have confirmed what I’d been growing to suspect – in the right environment, surrounded by the right people, and with the proper balance of effort and self care, art is absolutely a field I can envelop myself in. Via a few major changes (of both size and degree), I have reached a place I never imagined for myself. Spending six hours twice a week, with some additional time on the weekends, on each of my degrees has been shockingly rewarding. My brain has been changed forever. I’ve rewired my mind’s processing completely. This is great 99% of the time. The other 1% of the time, I’ll end up spotting a poster without proper kerning and it’ll turn into a staring contest – much to my family’s amusement.

Moving forward, I’m pursuing an online bachelor’s in organizational leadership. The business degree came back for me in the end, I guess! Who would’ve thought? As I do, I’ll continue to push myself. Doing freelance and personal graphic design work is a start. But I’d also like to explore more deeply the realms of illustration, concept art, character creation, and more.

The future holds many things, and I’m excited to figure out its secrets while learning a few of my own.

Past Showings

2022 Feast and Frights Show - Art321 Casper, Wy

2022 Wyoming Suicide Prevention Symposium - Cheyenne, Wy

2023 Casper College Expression Magazine - Casper, Wy

2023 Casper College Annual Juried Student Show - 2nd place - Casper, Wy

2024 Casper College Expression Magazine - Casper, Wy

2024 Casper College Annual Juried Student Show - Casper, Wy

NON OTHER Ways

Freelance Artist

Graphic Design

Photography

Fine Art

CV Available Upon Request