This is Anything but Normal.

I'm not quite sure where to start with this post. I'm putting my faith in the words that will come as I type them out.

When someone asks 'How are you?" Do I just say I am good or speak my truth and say: I am exhausted, depressed, worried, trying to make sense of this sudden change, and hoping.

It's been 2 weeks since we began self-quarantining, and to be honest, it's been a rollercoaster of emotions. I've felt defeated, saddened, powerless, exhausted, anxious, and yes, bored.

We're living in an incredibly fearful time, and I'm aware that stress levels are soaring. But amidst all this, I find myself profoundly grateful to be an artist. In the past, I've been thankful for the lifestyle this artistic path affords me. I've cherished the people who have walked alongside me on this journey. I've appreciated the opportunities that have come my way, and I've been touched by those who've chosen to live with my art. But today, my gratitude for being an artist has never felt more profound.

Now is not the time to pile on more pressure, so I've been toying around with color. Just playing, really. And granting myself the freedom to do whatever my heart desires.

Let me tell you, it has been an absolute revelation.

I've been witnessing some incredibly creative ways people are coping with this crisis on social media. What we need most right now is connection—to ourselves and to others.

In these trying times, seek solace in your creativity (and remember, you don't have to be an artist to tap into it) as a means to release some of that pent-up tension.

I understand the temptation to freeze when life spirals beyond our control.

Right now, the best advice I can offer is to embrace your creativity. As artists, we possess a unique ability to enter a "zone" when we create. We know how the world can fade into the background as we delve into our creative realms.

Allow yourself the space to feel all the emotions. Give yourself permission for it all (we certainly have the time), and also recognize that it's perfectly fine not to be at your peak productivity during this "effing" pandemic.

But, let creativity be your remedy.