In just a week, I’ll be standing among my painted birds in my very first solo art show. It’s surreal, really. I’ve been living in a world of painted feathers and the stories they bring to life, ideas that have floated through my mind for years. As a kid, I always dreamed of a moment like this—to have my own work in a gallery, to create something deeply personal and then open it up to others.
It may be a small show, but for me, this feels monumental. With so much art and media flying by on our screens every day, I wanted to bring my work to life in a way that feels more tangible. I chose acrylics because of their texture and vibrancy—my hope is that the details, each brushstroke, and the surreal elements of these paintings can be felt by anyone who stops by and spends a moment with them. There’s something unique about experiencing art in person, and I wanted to create a space where my work could be shared that way.
But putting myself out there is hard—there’s this blend of excitement, nerves, and vulnerability. Art shows have their own challenges, and it’s not easy to ask people to come out to something like this, especially in today’s fast-paced world. And to be honest, the practical side of organizing a show has been its own mountain to climb. Working full-time while balancing the costs of renting equipment, setting up the venue, making prints, and advertising on a budget—it’s been a lot. I know I won’t get everything done perfectly, but I’m doing my best to make it happen.
I’m not a social media expert, and I’ve always been a bit camera-shy, so just putting this show together has me facing a lot of anxieties and insecurities. But this is the beginning—the Painted Mixtape, Volume 1, as I’m calling it. And maybe, a year from now, I’ll be looking at this as the first step, hopefully with my book on this series completed and another goal accomplished.
So, here’s to beginnings, to trying, and to sharing a little piece of who I am through my art.
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