Acrylic Paint on Canvas Board (18" x 24")

A friend of mine that has been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder once described to me, after an episode of uncontrolled anger, that it sometimes feels like there is another person that comes out, and that it is frightening. This piece explores the struggle with personal identity that some individuals with bipolar disorder face. With periods of mania and depression, there is a sense of having a lack of control, and this leads to a struggle with acceptance of self. Bipolar disorder can be alienating and is often misunderstood, especially due to the unique case of every individual that suffers with it.

Mixed Media on Wood Panel (18" x 24")

The struggle of the elderly with mental illness is often left out of the conversation. A high percentage of the older population in and out of nursing homes have some mental health concern, but the world often focuses more on the youth or middle-aged populations when it comes to mental illness and more on cognitive issues when it comes to the elderly. This piece sheds light on the fact that they struggle, too, even though they might oftentimes be forgotten or misunderstood.

Mixed Media on Bristol Paper (15" x 22")

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be very difficult to understand when someone's trauma is unknown. A disorder stemming from an amount of stress and fear that overwhelms one’s nervous system, PTSD can affect every aspect of a person’s life and lead to alienation and depression. Commonly associated with war veterans and individuals who have lived through disasters, PTSD can also affect people who have suffered through abuse or who have experienced high levels of perceived stress in response to a situation. Trauma is individual and cannot be diminished because another person has a different response.