In 2008, I was given my first sketch book. It had artwork for My Chemical Romance and The Black Parade on the cover, and it was from Hot Topic. I was 12, I was angsty; I was absurdly poetic, and hopeful about the future.

I would spend the next ten years clutching my sketchbook to my chest as if it were the answer to all of my questions. What will I be when I grow up? Who will I fall in love with? Why are humans able to think about thinking? I put my sketchbooks on a pedestal (literally and figuratively speaking), even though I knew I wasn’t very good. It was never about talent or skill, perfectionism, or even what my viewer (my mom) thought.

It was about self discovery. Meditation. Contemplation. Exploration.

It was about embracing my spirituality, expressing myself, and finding ways to convey just how much I feel.

It’s 2026 now, and I am ready to share how I feel, with you.

It is my sincerest hope that you find yourself pausing on a sketch or two, sharing vulnerability with my own.