pieces of me 2024
Mixed Media
To summarize 2024 I thought about how nourishing it has been to spend time with people who fill my cup and how allowing myself to be led by activities and situations that feel good has energized me. Being welcomed into various communities has been an honor, and these connections have shaped me in countless ways. With this in mind, I decided to ask my people for help with this year’s self-portrait.
As someone who now holds space for others to create and uncover their inner magic, I let myself lean into the discomfort of asking for what I wanted. I invited people from close friends to neighbours, ex lovers and comrades and new connections in my life to collaborate on this self-portrait. I witnessed their reactions with openness and graciously accepted their “yes” or “no.” I learned so much from these interactions and I have so much gratitude for everyone who gifted me their efforts.
This experience was not only about creating art—it was about letting go of the desire to be perfect, trusting my community, and recognizing that the act of collaboration is as much a reflection of myself as any solitary piece I could create. The intended outcome was not to feel deeply loved but that's what ended up happening anyway. Thank you to everybody who contributed.
The Process
This year stepping into my role as an expressive arts therapist has profoundly impacted my art practice more than I ever thought it could. I've been happy with my journey so far but the process of deciding what I would do to best represent myself and 2024 at first was tricky. A part of me wanted to paint something spectacular that demonstrated my skill level and was better than anything I ever created before. I worried: If I don’t produce, if I don’t show my capabilities, am I even a real artist?
But a bigger part of me fought its way to the top this year, redefining what it means to be an artist. Throughout putting this together I was reminded that art doesn’t have to look one way. The process of creating is far more significant than the finished product. More importantly, I no longer crave external validation as much as I once did. I know myself that little but better than I did last year and that's cool.
At the beginning I had so many ideas but didn’t know where to start. Time and space felt like insurmountable barriers. And even when I made the space and found the time, something intangible still held me back. I started this particular idea months ago then I put it away, convincing myself it was stupid. Somewhere along the way I managed to return to myself and loosen the hold on my ego. And when I asked myself What do I need to do to get past this block? The answer eventually presented itself - I needed to surrender. For me this meant letting that trusting part of me take over and do its thing. When I stopped worrying about whether my art would be good enough or make sense and instead doused myself in self compassion and trusted the process, everything started to flow.
Completing this project has reminded me that I can honour the commitments I make to myself and continue to strive for truth even when it feels hard. In fact, so much is uncertain in this world that showing up for myself is the only thing that is really in my control.
My wish for others is that in 2025 you find a way to show up for yourself too, whatever that means to you. Be patient. And if you’ve already figured out how to do this, how to be your most authentic self, keep going. You have so much to offer and the world needs you.
