Derived from the Latin word to describe a “death” of the old self, Mortificatio, confronts the painful but necessary transformative phase in grief, which leads to rebirth and hidden happiness. The triptych serves as a reflection of my life, as I have balanced my spirituality with internal negotiations about life and death. I spent a long time angry at my younger self, innocent and unready to walk with death so intimately, for not dealing with my emotions and actions in the...

I started drawing when I was very young, bedazzled by the world of cartoons and superheroes and comic strips. I drew a lot of inspiration from them, drawing so many dinosaurs and Daffy Ducks and Batman. As I grew into a more mature artistic practice (which I know now was a mistake and have resolved to claw back my immaturity.) I had to completely revise my approach to the human figure. If you did not know, comic book superheroes are not the best place to learn accurate human

I return to the place where the Salmon spawn. My children bring me offerings of flowers, leaves, and stones as we walk along the rushing water. I hold up a branch of Asters dappled with light from the dancing trees above. Aaron and I stop under a bridge listening and watching, paying attention. We take a moment to feel the water flowing over our hands. We start to return back home. The kids run ahead with their dad, while I slowly follow behind. As I turn a corner, I am trans