Sometimes, I wonder why I keep painting—why I keep pouring my soul onto a canvas. In those moments of doubt, the universe always seems to answer in the most unexpected ways. This is the story of how Ready to Ride came to be.

Back in late 2023, I started working on what would become Ready to Ride. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to paint a beautiful girl and her deep, soulful connection with her horse. That idea pulled me in, and I fully immersed myself in bringing it to life.

But when I finished the painting that month, something felt off. I looked at it, unsatisfied, with this nagging thought: She doesn’t quite look like herself, and the horse isn’t quite right. That feeling wouldn’t go away, so I made a bold decision—I started over. Stroke by stroke, I refined the girl’s features, and something strange happened. The more I painted, the more she began to resemble someone. Someone I had never met, yet she felt oddly familiar. It was like she was revealing herself to me, emerging from my imagination as something real.

After finishing the second version, I showcased Ready to Ride in multiple exhibitions around Austin. Eventually, it found its way to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which was a surreal milestone for me. It stayed there until the first week of January 2025, when it finally came back home.

Then, on a quiet February morning, I got an email that sent shivers down my spine. It was from a grieving friend who had just lost her best friend to cancer. She had seen my painting in the airport and told me something that stopped me in my tracks—the girl in Ready to Ride looked just like her best friend’s daughter, and the horse was the spitting image of her friend’s beloved horse. She told me the painting would bring comfort to the young girl left behind.

I had no words. My heart swelled with gratitude. I could never have imagined that something I created, guided only by intuition and emotion, could mean so much to someone else. It was a powerful reminder that art has a life of its own, traveling beyond the artist to touch hearts in ways we never expect. I thought about that young girl, about her loss, and how, in some small way, this painting might help her heal. It made me realize that my art isn’t just about making something beautiful—it’s about connection, comfort, and reflecting the emotions that bind us all. Maybe that’s why I paint.

The universe has a way of showing us that our thoughts, our prayers, and our art are all part of something bigger. My paintings aren’t just images on canvas—they’re a way to illuminate the unseen threads that tie us to each other and to the world.

A Rainy Morning in Austin and a Watercolor Demo with Austin Palette Club

It was a wet and drizzly start to the day in Austin on February 11th. The morning air was filled with the rhythmic sound of raindrops, creating a peaceful yet moody atmosphere—perfect for a day of painting. Despite the downpour, I was excited to join the talented members of the Austin Palette Club for a watercolor demonstration.

For this demo, I chose to paint a free-flow watercolor piece featuring magnolias. Their delicate petals and graceful forms felt like the ideal subject for a day like this—soft, fluid, and full of movement. To enhance the ethereal quality of the painting, I used the resist technique with masking fluid, allowing the white of the paper to shine through and add depth to the composition. Limiting my palette to just the primary colors added a harmonious vibrancy to the piece, reinforcing the magic that can be achieved with minimal hues.

The rain outside seemed to echo the fluidity of watercolor—unpredictable, dynamic, and full of surprises. It was a joy to demonstrate how water and pigment can interact, much like nature itself, in an organic and beautiful way. The members of the club were wonderfully engaged, and it was inspiring to see their enthusiasm for the medium.

By the time the demo ended, the rain had softened, leaving behind a refreshed and glistening Austin. It was a reminder of how art, like nature, is ever-changing and full of life. I left feeling grateful for the opportunity to share my love for watercolor with such a welcoming and talented group.

Here’s to more creative mornings, rain or shine!