This past weekend, I had the pleasure of sharing my senior exhibition collection titled “Entrance to Emotions.” I have always been a creative person, but after taking my first painting class with Dennis McNally, S.J., Ph.D., I knew painting and expressing myself was something I needed to do. 

McNally challenged me to look for the purpose of what I was creating. It was at that moment I realized that there are millions of artists who could make a realistic flower or still life much better than me. I wanted to make art that was an extension of me and my mind. That is how I started to lean into surrealism. 

I am a rational person, and I often try to use logic to explain my emotions. However, as more self reflection occurred, I realized I had bigger feelings that go beyond words. 

Painting and creating art has become a therapeutic experience for me as a way to decipher my feelings and allow myself to process emotions that don’t necessarily make sense. 

In the past, my greatest inspiration had come from connection. I attempt to describe a connection that goes beyond reason, whether that be with a boyfriend, friend or stranger. 

For “Entrance to Emotions,” I wanted to explore the grief that occurs after the connection is broken. My initial plan was to create a linear sequence. However, I quickly realized through the creating process that grief and emotions do not have a logical process. As I tried to go back to those feelings of grief, I realized I was creating in bright, bold colors. 

Even the worst life events are beautiful, as it challenges you to continue to find the beauty of life.