Ancient magic and the unconscious are now central to my work. I’ve long kept my distance from experience, especially my own feelings. Making art lets me look at those feelings—grief, shame, love—and care for parts of myself I used to ignore. I want viewers to see their own emotions in the work. When they do, I blend their view with mine, reflecting the mix of conscious and unconscious. Through self-portraiture I map my emotional growth and track where I am in my personal journey.