IT'S CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT WHERE I ONCE WAS IN MY LIFE. I HAD TO LET GO OF WHAT I THOUGHT I "SHOULD" BE DOING AND TOOK A LEAP TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME TRULY HAPPY.
Five years ago, I was dedicating my time and energy to a career working in the civil engineering realm. I was working extensive overtime and travelling around British Columbia, Canada inspecting multimillion-dollar projects building bridges and highways. I gave up my free time and weekends, dedicating everything to my career. I was making a name for myself within the industry, as well as a very good salary for my age. I worked on pursuing and growing this career for 7 years. I had made it... and I should have been happy, right?
But I wasn’t. I had worked myself into a state of depression without knowing it. I knew deep down something was wrong. I could feel that my internal self wasn't happy. I felt like I was committing spiritual suicide.
At the end of a long day, I asked the Creator, is this what I should be doing? Because I'm not really quite sure. That evening I got some answers.
I was sitting on the couch scrolling Facebook and saw a video someone had shared about spray paint art. It was the first time my heart fluttered for anything. I felt more alive and awake than I ever did. I immediately went to the local hardware store and I purchased some spray paint. I had 10 minutes to get to the art store for some canvas...but I was too late, the store was closed.
I was so determined to try this out, I went home to search for something to paint on. I took a painting I had recently purchased off my wall and started to paint.
October 16,2016, I painted my first painting. My life changed that day and I had an awakening.
Two days later I quit my job in civil engineering. I wanted to be a full-time artist and to inspire others to follow their dreams and true passions because life is way too short not too.
As an artist, I use my work to breathe life into dreams.
I have been focused on my career as a professional Artist since 2016.
I use my story in hopes to inspire others to follow their true passions in life. Life is way too short to do anything but what you love.
Throughout this process, I came to the realization that I am a dreamer.
I want to use my art work for good and to help people. Thus, I created an interactive mural program with communities and school districts. We collaborate on the concepts/ideas and work on painting the piece together. I also teach students and/or adults how to safely spray paint in small groups.