I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember—which, for me, starts somewhere around age five. As a kid, drawing was second nature. But like many teens, I took a detour for a while. I traded sketchbooks for TV shows, movies, and music—anything escapist. It was also around that time that anxiety and depression quietly entered my life—though I wouldn’t receive an official diagnosis until much later.

Years (and countless ups and downs) later, I found myself exploring every mindfulness practice, breathing technique, and calming strategy I could get my hands on. Then one day, a persistent little voice in the back of my mind nudged me:

“Hey, remember when you used to draw? When you made things that gave you pride and peace? Maybe it’s time to start again.”

So, I did.

While I’d love to say art is now my full-time career and calling, that’s not quite the reality—yet. For now, every bit earned through this shop goes directly toward something very real: medical bills.

I’m not sharing this for sympathy. I know many others are facing struggles too. But this is our truth. Both of our sons are on the Autism Spectrum, and our youngest was recently diagnosed with PANDAS—a condition where a strep infection triggers neurological symptoms, often leading to sudden emotional and behavioral changes. On my end, I’ve been navigating a cocktail of diagnoses, from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndrome (for which I have a spinal cord stimulator) to Raynaud’s Syndrome and various mental health challenges that once landed me in a mental health triage facility. My wife, too, deals with a complex set of allergies that have led to multiple emergency ambulance rides.

Like I said—medical bills.

But here’s the hope: one day, things will look different. Until then, we’re doing what we can, one day at a time. Every purchase you make here helps support that journey, and for that, I’m deeply grateful. You’re not just supporting an artist—you’re supporting a family doing its best to move forward with honesty, humor, and hope.

I hope you’re well. I hope whatever you find here brings a bit of joy into your world. And to quote Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots:

“At the risk of feeling dumb, check in—it’s not worth the risk of losing a friend.”