After school I moved around a lot, never really planning more than 5 months ahead. I found inspiration in being in new places. Constant change kept me stimulated and passionate about preserving memories. New York has been the longest I've lived in one place since I was in school but, I’m always coming and going. I leave in order to gather materiel to paint about, sometimes to visit a new place sometimes to attend a residency. Many artists consider residencies to be a place to get work done. For me, I attend in order to gather stories. I meet new people, listen, gather data, and take notes on my surroundings. I write a lot when I'm away making color notes that I can bring back to New York where I can wring out all that I've collected. The clock in NY ticks fast and sometimes can be overwhelming so I feel lucky to be able to leave it at times - slow my pace and gather color. Then I can come back to the city, ride the wave, and let all that I've collected flow out on to paper.