Life and the Quest for Identity

" If you wake up at a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?" - Chuck Palahniuk

I'm beginning to fully realize the importance of personal identity. I know who I am deep down, and how I see the world - but the confidence to follow my instinct is usually subjected to the pressures of how others view my character, my work, and my goals. It is so important to believe in who you are and where you come from, but it is entirely too easy to drop your dreams for the expectations of others.
How do you stay intact with yourself, when the world throws curve balls every second of every day, forcing you to question? How do you stay strong, when people around you try to tear you down? Your reality starts to crack and crumble at the seams, and it is so difficult to piece it back together.

Trying to figure out how to stay whole in a world that seems to break so easily.

Eyes

" Love to his soul gave eyes; he knew things are not as they seem. The dream is his real life; the world around him is the dream." - Michel de Montaigne

I find that a person's most truthful and beautiful quality is in their eyes. An individual's eyes tell their entire story: where they've been, what they've experienced, how they see the world, and who they truly are. I find that I can usually tell immediately who a person is the second I make eye contact with them - from close friends, to strangers on the street. I always wonder what it is that makes it so obvious and clear, and I find myself painting and drawing eyes to recreate that honesty. For some reason, it never completely translates to paper, but I have made it my goal to try to really focus on that aspect in my artwork.
I want to use art to try to compliment what I see in my daily life, and express those emotions honestly through different mediums. We'll see how it goes, and where this work takes me.

This is the beginning.

polaroids, circa 2012

i've gotten into this habit of wanting to document those small, random moments that make my life wonderful. i don't want to forget the little things in life that complete me, and give me hope for the future. i think it's important for everyone to be aware of those small moments that change our lives forever. also, this will lead us to realize that WE have a huge impact in others' lives through the seemingly random decisions we make as well.
SO! in the spirit of documenting those events, i decided to buy a vintage polaroid camera haha... i love the look of polaroids, and wanted that instant gratification of the snapshots of my life. i'll be adding those photos, along with random artwork with the rest of my thoughts on this blog. i just wanted to start with something simple! and with most of my posts, i'll also be adding quotes that swirl around my crazy brain now and again. i hope you enjoy!

"our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. it is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. we ask ourselves, who am i to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? actually, who are you not to be? you are a child of god. your playing small does not serve the world. there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you." - marianne williamson

well hi there!

welcome to my new blog. please feel free to also check out my portfolio, which i don't update nearly as often as i should. but i'm getting there.

this is just a collection of my thoughts, dreams, ideas, and projects - all inspired by the events that happen around me. i would love any feedback and comments that you would like to share.

i hope you enjoy the randomness that is my mind! haha... i will be posting more soon.