Every non-commissioned project, every collage, is a journal entry that coincides with an era, conflict, or celebration of my life. I approach every new work openly, without a preconceived agenda. I gaze out over my table of cutouts and scraps, and let the pieces speak to me, to what I’m feeling those days. And I respond to certain combinations, juxtapositions, and moods based on what’s going on in my life. From there, a work takes on a life of its own, and my only job is to respond to what it’s saying. And I know when a piece is done because I always have this “Eureka!” moment when I burst out laughing at the story that unfolds before me. I allow every experience—even the sad ones—to have a bit of humor in them, and this levity translates to my collages as well. When something makes me laugh, then I know I’m going in the best direction.