Pragmatic

This painting was inspired by a mountain trail close to home where I go to de-stress from the hustle culture of LA. It’s a place of rest and beauty for me - and in my eyes it’s the real LA. (I am originally from South Carolina).
Getting outdoors helps me remember what truly matters in life. It’s hard not to get caught up stressing about success and how much I accomplish each day - and each painting I work on is a small act of rest from that stress. Each painting is also a small rebellion against the voices in my head telling me I’m not good enough. That I’m not productive enough or “pragmatic” enough to fit in with this city.
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Ultimately I don’t need to fit in to the art or music scene of LA - I just need to steward what I've been given, love others, and do good work. And that’s not a heavy burden. It's the most joyful and ironically the most “pragmatic” thing I (and you) can do. (The word "Pragmatic" is painted in thick paint as part of under-paint so that it shows through the final image. It's there as a personal reminder to me that I should always love my creative spirit and always make room for art in my life, regardless of how often the world tells me to be more pragmatic.)