I make art because I like to surprise myself. I make art because while using my hands, and sometimes a shoulder to knock the door open carrying a large canvas, I am simultaneously digging into an idea, a strand of inspiration, or a flicker of a vision in order to produce something from somewhere within myself. I make art because nothing is more healing than an empty studio and a speaker singing Frank Sinatra’s “In the Wee Small Hours” exists. I make art because standing above and below other artists separated by cement and ventilation systems in Lamar Dodd tells me I’m not alone. I make art because knowing thousands of people before me went through the same struggle, joy, scrutiny, patience, and discipline gives me comfort and reassurance. I make art to meet people- people that are talented, curious, and intelligent; people that know nothing about art but love to look at it anyway, and people that teach you something you didn’t know. I make art because no matter how imaginative the piece may be, it’s one of the few real things in the world. I make art because it’s a way of showing yourself to others in a way inaccessible in other forms. The Wish Dish is a form of art in itself. It’s a mode in which people can express their sadness, joy, struggle, and triumph. Using my work to illustrate the book after getting to work through Bryan’s creative process and vision for the platform would be an incredible opportunity to marry the brand and my respect and love for it.
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