TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DISCOVERED YOUR LOVE FOR IT.
I am an artist. A creator. One of those types that tries a bit of everything to find a beautiful place to land. Here...now...I find myself in this world of poetic freedom. Writing words to feel and see, to rest my head and heart. What began as an outlet for my creative broken heart has turned into a true love for my mind, body and soul. Mixing visual aesthetics through typography and photography and allowing the story to be told tile by tile on Instagram’s simplistic spread. My discovery of this passion was a completely organic experience. An unexpected treasure that has changed my world.
IN THREE WORDS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE AND AESTHETIC?
Peculiar. Delicate. Moody.
IN THREE WORDS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Forgiving. Passionate. Unique.
WHAT EMOTION(S) DO YOU TRY TO EVOKE WITH YOUR WORK?
Inspired. In everything that I touch, my hope and desire is to always inspire - myself and others. To offer someone the opportunity to see things differently. To have one embody a feeling within that makes them look at themselves or the world differently. There is no greater gift.
WHAT IS ONE THING THAT SETS YOUR WORK APART (YOUR SIGNATURE), AND HOW DID YOU DISCOVER IT?
A few months ago when I was browsing my favorite poet’s account (@atticuspoetry), I found myself inspired...his words so often leave me blanketed in this emotional state. Leading up to this moment I was feeling creatively broken, like a dark light was casting shadows all around me - creating barriers that I could not escape. I remember the moment distinctly - reading his words and feeling this nudge within telling me that I, too should create words to feel and love. That day, I created Wilder Poetry and haven’t steered away since.
There are so many talented poets on Instagram, but I knew I wanted to create an experience...not only through my words but through visuals as well. I wanted my gallery to tell a story. That is when I thought to look outside of those small tiles - to expand the eyes beyond those lines. I call it a “grid” layout - I certainly am not the only one that incorporates this into their gallery, but the entire collection of my space embodies this presentation. Each individual tile is home to one poem - giving the individual space something of value, but upon viewing my entire gallery feed, there is a larger story to be seen.
DESCRIBE YOUR MOST TREASURED PIECE TO DATE - ONE THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF AND CAN’T LET GO OF.
Oh my! This is so difficult. I find myself falling in love with certain collections of my poetry with every new posting. My process is rather quick - writing short poems in abundance (having written just over 800 short poems in 4 months) looking back, it’s as if I wasn’t the original writer. It’s a surreal experience. Upon looking at my gallery now, I would say my favorite piece(s), because I truly can’t pick only one, is “be still the wolves are coming” and “lay your monsters down”
There is something so evocative to me in these - so few words - but they make the mind go wild.
HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED, AND WHAT INSPIRES YOU ON A DAILY BASIS?
The connections I have made in such a short time...my goodness how unbelievable they have been. To be surrounded by their endless love and support. Truly, this is what keeps me going...this is what keeps me inspired to continue writing words and creating these stories through visual presentation. What began as a self healing project for myself has turned into something that is for all of us. It’s one of the most beautiful things I have ever been a part of.
WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO IS STUCK AND WHO WANTS TO DISCOVER THEIR PASSION?
Surround yourself with things that are beautiful to you. Whether it be words, photography, textures, colors, music...anything. This can be something that is tangible, but also digital. I turn to Pinterest, blogs and Instagram for inspiration near always. In this space, there is an endless world of possibility. To me, it is transformational. I have discovered and rediscovered myself and my passions time and time again. Like a new chapter in a book that keeps getting better over time.
IF THERE WERE ONE THING YOU’D WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
I would want to be known as someone that is kind. No matter the day, no matter the time. Kindness, to me, is what makes the world go round. It costs absolutely nothing to be kind. It has its own universal language and through kindness we inspire others to be kind as well.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR WORK WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
Honestly, I feel as though Wilder is leading me. I am not leading it. Several opportunities have surfaced over the last month that I am incredibly excited to share (very soon). My hope is that Wilder will continue to be very alive on this platform and in every way that make sense. I have a love for beautifully tangible things. To have my words in the hands of others, in one way or the other would be the greatest dream come true.
I AM ...
humbled by this opportunity and all the others that have been gifted to me. Mostly, I am thankful and honored that so many have found something to love inside the story of Wilder.
I BELIEVE ...
I believe things happen for a reason. My life has been a continuous roller coaster of ups and downs. Dark and light moments that have shaped me into the very person I am. Here I am doing something that I never expected - and the path has been so unbelievably beautiful.
I LOVE ...
fog, moss filled forests, wildflowers, creatures of this earth - all of the beautiful things that make the color wild.
MY GREATEST FEAR IS ...
living life in fear.
My greatest lesson in life so far is ...
to never underestimate your capabilities. Our passions are passions for a reason. Never stop fighting for the things that your head and your heart want.
I am proud of ...
my overcoming my recent darkness. It is a space I rarely find myself, this most recent experience was particularly paralyzing...but here I am, on this new journey finding myself along the way and how beautiful it has been.
My greatest accomplishment is ...
living life fully...every day - no matter how many monsters may be knocking at my feet trying to take me down!
A quote I live by is ...
I am going to make everything around me beautiful - that will be my life. Elsie De Wolfe
My idea of a perfect day is ...
a rainy day! There is something so beautiful about grey clouds resting above my head - rain against the window while I work, read, create.
My dream is ...
to touch the lives of all those who cross my path during this life.
I will ...
not be defined by my failures, for my failures are the stepping stones that deliver me to this wildly beautiful path I call growth.