It is a place of safety. Not always comfort. Sometimes the art is distressing and painful as it comes out. But it lives with the best intention.

I have been submerged in the arts. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll bleed paint next time I’m cut open, or if poems will pour from my wounds.

In my art is where I develop myself. It is where I explore myself. Where I define myself. On a blank canvas I am free to tell my story. It is the song before it is sung.

 I am creative by nature. It would be against myself to suppress my expressions. And the same is true of you, you just might be better at it.

The way that we walk, and talk. What we eat, when we sleep, how we move and groove and mentally consume. These are all creative decisions. These are the choices that define you, and they are you.

Your choices become you.

And that will be your greatest work. The most amazing artwork I will ever offer the world is myself. How I choose to be in this world.

We are all creative. We are all living art works. And as I dive into my art, I dive into the development of my self.

When I was in high school I used the arts to transform my stifled emotions. I was not good with words. I had a very hard time connecting with people, but I would find release in the guitar. I was able to put my self fully into the music. It would absorb me and my woes.

As I grew and began to find peace within, I would use the arts to focus my energy on those desired states. I would write a song about the deep, wise, loving soul that resided within, and use the song to call upon it. I wrote another song about the innocence and joy that children feel, living from that place of freedom I would sing and play.

I wrote many songs about many feelings. They were, and still are, opportunities for me to dive into that state of emotional well-being.

The art I produce these days are often celebrations of life. Yes, some writing, some singing reflects the pain and sorrow that I experience, but they are processes by which I acknowledge and let go of the pain.

Often times, I find myself celebrating with music. Painting pictures of angels and the divine.

I acknowledge that I am highly creative, and I know that we all have the same ability. I encourage people to step into their own creative power. I encourage you to take responsibility for your actions. The sooner you do, the sooner you will reclaim your power to create the life that you want.

There are struggles, certainly. But art teaches me to transform them. It is lemonade from lemons. From the pain, we make art. And we dive deep.

I dive deep into my pain in order to transform it. It will not happen without the deep acknowledgement, and how safe a space it is to use art.

My platforms are many. From music, to illustration, and poetry, prose and moving pictures. But the message is the same. More than a specific medium I have a specific message. That you are capable of change and transformation. You have the power to create.

My art does not want to be glorified. I do not want you to look at me and praise me. I want you to look at yourself. The art is a mirror showing you your own divine origin.

The greatest compliments I receive are not how pretty they are, or how good I sound, but how people are inspired to create themselves. How people are encouraged to dive into their own artistic practice, so that they can receive the benefits of art.

Art is a process. It is often confused with product, but it is a process by which the individual creates themselves. Art is intention. Art is aligning with purpose.

Art is an exploration of our curiosity.

Engage yourself. Discover the creative act. Because it extends far beyond the canvas. Life is your art. Embrace it.

Dance. Sing. Play. Act. Write. These are the things which nourish your soul. Which give meaning to life. The artistic process has an incredible ability to heal.

I will continue to practice, as I help myself, and display to the world what courage looks like. I will not be afraid to show up, and be my real, authentic self. That is what my song is. That is what my speech is. That is what I am.