Returning to the Wild: The Story Behind My Wild Encounters Series

Returning to the Wild: The Story Behind My Wild Encounters Series

Sometimes the quietest moments stay with you the longest. That’s what I hoped to capture when I began painting the Wild Encounters series—those fleeting, almost sacred exchanges between animals and butterflies that stop you in your tracks and make you feel deeply connected to the world around you.

I painted these works during an art course a few years ago. At the time, I was drawn to simplicity: soft backgrounds, gentle light, and the relationship between creatures who rarely share space—but when they do, it feels magical. I’ve always felt something stir in me whenever I see a butterfly, like the world is giving me a small reminder to pause, breathe, and be present. That’s what I wanted to share through this series. Each painting is a quiet story—a fox in stillness, a bear mid-breath, a raccoon reaching toward light.

What I didn’t expect was that after finishing this body of work, I would step away from painting entirely. For three years, I didn’t pick up a brush. Life changed in ways I couldn’t have predicted. I experienced deep loss, personal transformation, and a complete reshaping of what I thought my path would look like.

Now, on the other side of that chapter, I’m painting again. Slowly, gently, and with more heart than ever before. Wild Encounters marked the end of one era in my creative journey—and now it also marks the beginning of a new one. I'm filled with gratitude to be reconnecting with my art and my voice, and I can’t wait to share what’s coming next. There are new pieces in the works, and they hold a different kind of story—one rooted in resilience, hope, and renewal.

Thank you for being here. This is just the beginning of the next wild encounter.