Start July 25th, 2022
Finish December 16th, 2022
4 months, 21 days
This piece was born from an unexpected spark of inspiration. I was on the hunt for an original Tony Ortega chalk painting when I stumbled upon a local gallery featuring works by Monroe Hodder. I was immediately drawn to the energy of his paintings — the bold colors and dynamic brushstrokes. It ignited something in me.
I wanted to capture that same vibrancy, but through my own lens. The result? A fun experiment in energy and texture, as I mirrored Monroe’s movement with beads.
I loved the freedom of taking someone else’s art as inspiration, but then making it my own. Using leftover beads — bits and pieces that didn’t quite fit anywhere else — felt like giving them new life. There was something satisfying about using up what I had and finding a place for each bead to belong.
Part of this piece came to life while I was on vacation, on a quiet, secluded beach in Turks and Caicos. It was the perfect environment to let creativity flow, and I could feel the energy of the piece coming alive, alongside the peacefulness of the setting.
This project was more than just about the beads. It was about the creative process itself — and, in a way, it was a gift from 2022. For all the challenges it brought, it also brought this work, which helped me process and move forward.