Behind the Canvas: Art as a Mirror, Not a Masterpiece

I first dreamed of becoming an artist during Covid. Like a lot of people, I suddenly had extra time to reflect, and painting became my way to reconnect with myself. I started imagining what it would be like to create something meaningful and maybe even make a name for myself. The problem was, my skills didn’t match my ideas yet. That was frustrating, but I realised I couldn’t get where I wanted to go overnight.

I decided to give myself time to grow. Over the past few years, I’ve been steadily working on improving, learning new techniques, and figuring out what I actually want to say through my art. I’ve had to be patient and remind myself that building real skill and confidence takes longer than you expect.

Where My Inspiration Lives

Inspiration is everywhere for me. I take photos of flowers and interesting textures whenever I see them. Nature always surprises me with unexpected colours and shapes. I also love noticing patterns in architecture, like doorways, tiles, or old stone walls. The contrast between organic shapes and man-made structure is something I keep coming back to in my art.

My Process: From Messy to Refined

I’ve come to realise that my love for texture, colour, and mark-making is more than an aesthetic preference, it’s an emotional language. The way I layer paint, the marks I leave, the colours I choose… they all reflect how I’m feeling in that moment. Sometimes the strokes are soft and quiet. Other times, they’re bold, sharp, or unfiltered. And I don’t try to control that anymore.

I don’t believe humans are meant to be linear. We’re not made of one mood, one energy, or one version of ourselves. We have highs and lows. Good days and bad. Softness and strength. To me, that tension, that push and pull of daily life is the meaning of being alive and it’s worth celebrating.

What Never Changes

Even as I keep experimenting, I always return to the same themes: self-worth, intuition, and empowerment. That’s really what I care about most and what I hope you see in my work. For me, art is about showing up honestly and giving myself permission to grow.

My process is about giving myself permission to be all of those things: messy, refined, growing, and real. If my art offers you that same sense of permission or comfort, then I feel like I’ve done my job. Art isn’t just something I make; it’s something I return to, layer by layer. I hope you find some of that freedom for yourself, too.

A Note To You,

I hope my paintings invite you to reflect on the parts of yourself that you hide away from yourself. Realise those things should be just as celebrated as the rest of you. It’s those little nuances that make you authentically you. Know that you’re loved, seen and heard just as you are.