What would it look like if we made all of our emotions visible—unfiltered, raw, and undeniable? This question fuels my work. My paintings explore the interaction between the emotional and physical self, using layered portraiture and symbolic environments to reveal what often goes unseen.

In this body of work, The Gold Lining: I move away from the idea of the “silver lining”—a distant, often cold attempt at optimism—and instead claim the gold lining: a present, living mindset of strength, faith, and clarity. The gold lining is not something we search for after tragedy, but something we embody during it. It is bold, warm, and unwavering—an energy that shines through even in the darkest currents.

Through an additive process, I layer emotional cues, physical references, and environmental elements—particularly the ocean—to highlight the invisible weight we carry and the resilience that anchors us. The ocean becomes a mirror for our internal states: turbulent yet calm, overwhelming yet cleansing. Each portrait begins from a deeply personal emotional state and evolves into a conversation between the outer façade and the inner reality.

As the human condition continues to shift and unfold, I find myself called to document its waves. The Gold Lining is not about what comes after — it’s about becoming in the midst of it all. It is about holding on to the clarity, the grit, and the luminous truth that we are already enough, already becoming, already shining.