Meliorism is one of the first portraits in my new Wayfinder series. She is a strong, self-confident woman who is looking to the future. Rather than focusing on the divisiveness and performative behavior so popular in the mainstream, she is charting a better path for herself.
Believing that we can do better is not a descent into toxic positivity. It is an intentional effort to move the world in a better direction – through example, through lifting one another up, and through an understanding that negativity thrives on base emotions. It is not an effort to pretend that there is no struggle or room for improvement, but rather, consciously pursuing solutions to problems and creating better options.

Inspiration:

Meliorism (n): The quiet, yet unwavering belief that the world, despite its flaws and struggles, can be made better through human effort, kindness, and wisdom.

Spiral Symbolism: the spiral is a symbol found across cultures and throughout history, generally represents growth, evolution, and the interconnectedness of life and consciousness.
It embodies the journey of life, with its winding path leading from the outer world toward an inner center or a higher state of being.
Growth, individually and collectively, and the ever-changing nature of existence.
Can represent the journey of consciousness, connecting the material world to a higher spiritual realm or cosmic awareness.

Body of Work Statement
In many cultures, women are celebrated for bringing forth and nurturing life. I believe it is this devotion that elevates our human place in the natural world and ignites our more complex creative pursuits.
It is for this reason that I incorporate portraits of women in my explorations of nature, combining symbolism and legends across species to illustrate narratives born of reverence and joy – for the natural beauty that we all possess, and our interconnectedness to the larger world of which we are a part.