The Phoenix Movement. Art that brings life and healing. Seeing art and things for their beauty, and creating art for peace.
I fell into shock for the first time from violence when I was ten. I had seen my mom turn violent against my dad. I didn’t know this would cause me to develop persistent depression. I struggled with it for the next several years. People thought it was anger, but it was the frustration of being a teen and not knowing what was going on in my head. My parents got divorced. I lost the only dream I ever had to join the military and continue the generational service my family gave.
I spiraled out of control. I basically “quit” life and stopped caring about everything. I couldn’t bring myself to get control, and everything I tried to do failed. My depression was at an all time high, and I felt like it wasn’t me, like someone else was controlling me. I had been riding every depressive low for two years.
I finally “snapped awake” in county jail. I was about to be sentenced to life without parole. I was 19, about to turn 20. Just a few months away from the day I would be sentenced to live a death sentence in prison, never to be free again.
On April 10th, 2016, I began writing a fantasy book. That November, I learned how to make beadwork. Before the year ended, I had probably written three full length manuscripts by hand. The next two years brought me another set of books, totaling eight or nine handwritten manuscripts in just a two to three year period. One got stolen, and one was thrown away when I tried to mail it home.
In March of 2023, someone told me he was going to teach me to paint. I didn’t even know his name yet. I picked the image, and a few months later, in May, I had finished it. Since then, I have painted several pieces and even been paid for some. On March 25th, 2024, I made a decision. I had learned all kinds of painting styles and eras, and I wanted something of my own, something that would be mine to start.
The Phoenix Movement. Art that brings life and healing. Seeing art and things for their beauty, and creating art for peace.
I never want to hurt anyone like I have in the past. I’ve had enough of destruction. I will not have that pain and suffering on my hands again.
Now I stand strong, learning from my past and living my life. I will not let myself be shaken. I will continue to create books, and sell beadwork and paintings to anyone who wants to help feed creativity and spread kindness, to anyone who wants to see a handcrafted piece of art that makes them smile all the time.
