creation over fear

Welcome to my first blog post! This will be the first of many :)

I wanted to talk about a painting I recently made, titled Creation Over Fear. As with all my work, I didn’t start with an agenda—just movement, play, and intuition. As the abstract painting emerged and took shape, I realized it was speaking to a theme I return to often: transformation. Specifically, this painting is about the transformation of fear into creation, a concept that resonates deeply in both my art and life.

Recently, I came across a line from poet Yrsa Daley-Ward: “Anytime I choose creation over fear, I win.” This quote stuck with me like a mantra, weaving its way into my thoughts and, eventually, onto my canvas. It feels like such an urgent truth, especially in the world we’re living in—a world that often stifles creativity with fear, exhaustion, and scarcity. There are plenty of oppressive forces that thrive on keeping us afraid—too many, in fact, to list without going off on a tangent. For example, I could rant about late-stage capitalism, colonialism, patriarchy, toxic individualism, fear-based news cycles, fascism, industrialized education, or environmental destruction, and how these systems work to disempower and trap us in their sticky web. However, I don’t want to feed these fearsome forces further--this post is about imagining creative possibilities beyond all that. 

So if we’re not giving our attention to fear, what are we focusing on instead? Creation. Imagination. Possibility. Faith in what could be, and action in that direction. Creativity isn’t just about making things, it’s about shifting perspective. It’s a practice of self-sovereignty. We all have unique gifts and visions that we can weave into the fabric of reality. In fact, it is our birthright and soul’s purpose to do this! If you are waiting for permission from some external system to allow you to tap into your creative gifts, you might be waiting forever. No one is coming to grant you creative freedom. You already have it. The only permission you need is your own.

Claiming our creative freedom means shedding the layers of conditioning that keep us small and compliant. It’s a process of unlearning, of peeling away fear, and uncovering something truer. This is why I almost titled this painting ‘Year of the Snake’—because it’s about that too. The serpentine movement in this abstract artwork speaks to transformation, adaptability, and spiritual awakening (think Kundalini in Indian traditions). We are living in uncertain times, but the snake teaches us how to navigate change with precision and intention.

Like the snake, we can practice shedding what we don’t need, coiling for internal guidance, undulating to shift course, and striking when it’s time for powerful action. The future isn’t something we passively wait for; it’s something we actively shape, both inwardly and outwardly. Oppressive systems will never be our salvation, so we must make them obsolete—by thinking beyond them, by daring to imagine, and by creating. What does that look like for you? For your community? What role can you play in your own inner revolution—and the greater revolution at large?

Just as a ship captain relies on anchors, maps, and compasses to navigate a stormy sea, we need spiritual touchstones to steady us in uncertain times. These touchtones may come in the form of mantras, ritual objects, inspiring music, or visual art—what matters is finding what keeps you grounded, guided, reminded, and connected amidst the waves. My hope is that this painting (and all of my work), serves as such a touchstone. May it be a symbol of choosing imagination over fear, possibility over paralysis, and transformation over stagnation. If this piece resonates with you, the original painting is available below, along with fine art prints on canvas and paper.

I wish you strength and creativity on your journey, with many touchstones along the way.