Congratulations on your recent graduation! Can you walk us through a typical day during your senior year when you were juggling training, classes, and studio time? What kept you grounded?
Yes, of course. With my consistently crowded schedule, my days started either with early morning practices or driving to my internship at Ogunquit Museum of American Art; upon completion of either activity, I would spend the mid-day to evening in studio classes or my honors capstone class. I could bank on being busy each day until 7pm, which left the evenings for me to tend to my online classes, and complete meal prep/grocery shopping for the days ahead.
Honestly, what kept me grounded was the fact that every aspect of my day needed to get done. Since each activity was equally important to the next, I found a groove knowing that the only option was to tend to my responsibilities. My schedule existed how it was because I chose to take on the responsibilities of a full time student, athlete, and artist, and that was all the motivation I needed to handle my day.ever made.
Was there a specific experience in your academic or athletic career that changed the way you approach your art?
I wouldn’t say there was one specific academic/athletic experience that changed how I approach my art, I think every day played a crucial role in where I am now. I always approached my art in the sense that I would give 110% effort, especially in moments where discipline was paramount. Applying myself in the seemingly minute aspects of life allowed me to benefit immensely.
Your recent gallery show in L.A. was a huge milestone and accomplishment. What surprised you most about that experience?
I’d say what surprised me the most was how nothing stressed me out about the entirety of the process. Specifically as a creative, there are myriad situations where faltering and doubt can extinguish your vision if you let them. Remaining composed and focused through such a significant and busy moment of my life was the only option for success, I was just surprised at how prepared I was for each obstacle. Each moment of adversity just seemed too feeble to stop me from accomplishing my vision. I met each obstacle not with shock or doubt, but with disciplined labor.
When you hit a creative block, what rituals or habits pulled you back into momentum?
Personally, the remedy for a creative block was to just continue. Every creative block I’ve had, and will have in the future, are nothing more than opportunities to express gratitude for where I am in life. These blocks are not due to lack of ideas or creativity, but instead a checkpoint on my process. Just continuing to create in these moments is essential for refining my strengths and weaknesses as an artist and human being.
What advice would you give to other student-athletes who wanted to pursue creative passions seriously alongside competitive sports?
My advice to any student-athletes who wish to seriously pursue creative passions alongside competitive sports: strive to love the dull moments equally as you would with the exciting moments. By choosing to love each moment, you extinguish the desire to hate.
Looking forward, what’s a dream project or goal that you’re striving for? What excites you about the future?
I’m currently working on a large project, addressing multiple facets of weakness in order to continue growing as an artist. I don’t ever stress about the future, because as a human being, I can only experience life in the present moment, so my future can only happen “right now”. The future eventually has to be the present moment, so anything that I accomplish in my future is always going to be “right now”. For that, I look forward to each day I have to be an artist.