My art consists of surreal portraits, drawing on my knowledge, ability and mood.  I have always been a creative person, and as a young adult I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  I do not usually talk about my mental illness, but when I do, it is to erase stigma and educate.  It is a part of my artistic process, but does not define me.     I discovered life drawing and portraiture at a young age, and feel most comfortable with that subject matter.  Typically, I paint the model’s eyes with a blank stare, this allows the viewer to really see what the subject feels.  My portraits are rendered loosely, using traditional techniques, with bright and tertiary colours.  The paintings display both complementary and contrasting elements, to create harmony and tension.  A perfect marriage of whimsical dream-like feeling, with realism.  Incorporating symbolic imagery in every piece is important to each individual subject, which makes the work vulnerable, unique and personal.     This current series “Gone Around the Bend” is the culmination of my exploring portraiture with the relationship between creativity and mental illness.  My goal is to capture the model’s experiences, along with mine, touching on themes such as advocacy, struggles and social issues.  It is known that people with bipolar disorder may carry certain advantages for creativity, and for me it offers a powerful means for expression.   By putting emphasis on the subjects gifts rather than the illness, one may learn and honour their gifts.  A defining moment to capture this sentiment - While leaving my doctor’s office after my first diagnosis, she asked me, “Are you creative?” I said, “Yes.”