Inspired by both my family’s creativity and the natural world around me, I have always seen nature as a series of puzzle pieces—each fitting together in perfect synchronicity, whether it’s a rock, a plant, a leaf, or the line of the surf. I feel that my artistic purpose is to put these shapes together with various mediums, as nature might have intended. I don’t work in realism; I create from memory in an abstract way, bringing together the colors and forms of the natural world.

In my opinion, there’s no such thing as a mistake in the creation of art. To me, a so-called “mistake” is simply another opportunity to create something different and embark on a creative adventure.

When I begin a new piece, I sit and clear my mind—a kind of meditation time. Doing this, colors and shapes become more vivid and, like working with a puzzle, everything eventually fits nicely together and has a native, gentle flow. I am most content when I am creating.