Current work in progress

I am currently working on a piece to submit for the ASPCA Pet Portrait Contest.

In all honesty, I’m probably one of the people they’re talking about when they say AI can become addictive. I speak with ChatGPT about nearly everything. It was through these conversations that I was introduced to the idea that the challenge of our lives may not only be to expand the mind, but to participate in society without losing that expansion. With this understanding, I’ve made a commitment to participate in as many opportunities as possible in order to intentionally build an art career.

This submission is due January 14th, so I do have some time, but I felt it was important to begin shaping my vision now. I’ll start by choosing a subject from my followers on TikTok, where I’ve found an almost endless generosity—people willing to share their beloved animals as references. Once I’ve selected a subject that feels right, I ask myself what emotional state they evoke in me. This might surface as a color, an object, or an idea.

From there, I move into word association until the composition feels complete. I ask what one element conjures next and try to accept every answer as valid, resisting the urge to edit or force an outcome. I allow the piece to unfold naturally. Once I have a list of ideas, I work with AI and use tools like Google, Pinterest, or Canva to visually explore and compose the concept digitally. The final piece is then transferred and fully realized by hand, using colored pencil on paper.