Here is to Another Year of Absurdity

My first full year as an artist is officially under my belt, and somewhere along the way, I’ve started to feel comfortable in my own skin - specifically, as a not-so-serious one.

Painting has become as much art therapy for me as it is a deeply fulfilling chapter of my retirement. For most of my career, I was required to be calm, steady, and level-headed under pressure. In the software world, being the rock matters. You solve problems, manage stress, navigate people, and keep things moving when things are on fire.

There was creativity in that work... especially in problem-solving and leadership, but it was a very controlled kind. Effective. Necessary. And ultimately limited.

The growth I’ve experienced this past year has been different. More expansive. More personal.

One of my favorite compliments is when someone tells me they’ve never seen anything quite like my art before. As cliché as that may sound, it means everything. Maintaining independent creative thought is harder than it looks, especially in a world saturated with opinions, algorithms, judgment, and trend cycles that reward sameness.

Choosing to stay playful, bright, and a little irreverent isn’t accidental - it’s a commitment.

I’ve also been overwhelmed with gratitude for the support I’ve received over the past year. From the local community here in Bocas to messages and purchases through my online shop, every kind word, share, and vote of confidence has mattered more than I can easily put into words.

This year wasn’t about perfection or polish. It was about permission. Permission to explore, to loosen the rules, and to trust that art doesn’t have to take itself too seriously to be meaningful.

And for the first time in a long time, that feels like real growth.