Following that period of experimentation and learning, I moved into the next phase, which was more exploration. During this time, I created two pieces that I consider beyond beautiful. A lot of time and effort went into making them. They were constructed over the course of a one-week annual leave, and the refinement continued over about a month.
On top of this, there was some amazing news—I got approved for an artist residency. The reception for these pieces was incredible, and it was very eye-opening. As much as I loved the work and appreciated the recognition, there was still something inside me telling me that while these pieces were good, I was moving towards something else.
The techniques were all there—how to move paint, the drying times, the materials—but there was still an element missing for me, something beyond the spontaneity of creating. I needed more structure, more organization within the process to feel truly comfortable with the work. I was searching for something deeper, and that search was part of what pushed me to create my website and return to social media.
During this time, I embraced a bit of an amateur approach. I applied to everything that was open, even opportunities I didn’t feel fully qualified for. I wrote applications, sent them out, and yes, I received rejections. But this process put things into perspective and taught me the importance of professionalism and having even if it wasnt all there, a semblance of clarity to my practice and a real message. It was a way to take myself seriously as an artist, not to convince anyone else, but to stand firm in my own practice and intentions.
This period was still all about exploration, learning, and pushing the boundaries of my practice. As you will see in the next chapters, this phase laid the groundwork for what my work would evolve into and shaped the path forward.