Heart of an Artist

10/02/2026

Quarterly self portrait/artist intro to all new followers! A bit about me:
1.) I majored in Advertising in college, and taught myself graphic design. I've been drawing and painting ever since I could pick up a pen, but for the last few years have taught myself and focused on oil painting.

2.) Being involved in musical theatre can be a pretty spiritual experience for me. For the last two shows I've been in (and the one I'm soon going to be a part of) the themes all had something to do that was happening in my spiritual life and relationship with God. A former actress once said that acting isn't lying, it's telling the truth, which I completely agree with. I've always said that the best acting is the kind where you're not acting at all; I haven't had any professional training in this area but it's an approach I've found to have worked well in all my roles.

3.) I recently became professed as a life-long lay, third Order Dominican as of this past August! Our charism, or gift, of preaching and study has influenced the way I approach my work and my art.

4.) A work of fiction I'm currently reading is Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. The way I came to read it was quite providential and unexpected: I heard about it from a priest's homily on Youtube and was struck by the themes of guilt, shame, and redemption that were mentioned. A few days later, I immediately went to the bookstore and bought it.

5.) This picture was taken back in February...my hair is not that long anymore 😂

09/25/2026

Super excited to show my first ever commissioned painting! My friend Richard Pipala requested a painting of St. Thérèse of Lisieux!

To be honest, St. Therese has never really resonated with me. I read Story of a Soul late in high school, and I Believe in Love in grad school… and I lowkey forgot what she wrote 🤣🤣🤣 I am also not a fan of over sentimentality/stereotypical feminine stuff that seems to surround her, I don’t think I would’ve gotten along with her if we were both alive at the same time, and I am not exactly a fan of the way people constantly try to ask her for signs through the form of roses. (I’m more of a fan of aggressive, reforming saints like Joan of Arc, Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, who overturned societal expectations of women).

However I believe St. Therese has something valuable to offer myself. She was no stranger to suffering. I relate to her struggles with mental health. As I was painting this image, I was given the opportunity to ask her to pray for me in a more intentional way, even though I still don’t quite understand her.

One day, by God’s grace, I will, in Heaven. That’s the beauty of relationships when they’re rooted in Christ; on earth, they may be strained or fraught. But when they are rooted in Him, they will be fully healed in the life to come.

09/14/2026

Hail the Cross our only Hope!

09/12/2026

A lovely story of God’s providence:
This past Thursday I thought I was going to be needed in the office at work, and not have time to Mass at my former university during my lunch hour. So I planned on going to Mass at my parish at 7:30am. But I forgot to set my alarm and slept in so I wasn’t able to make it to morning Mass. I figured I just wouldn’t go that day.

Turns out there was a miscommunication with my coworker and I wasn’t entirely needed onsite, even though I already arrived at the office. So, I could go to Mass that noon on campus! But the Mass that day wasn’t the average liturgy, it was the Mass of the Holy Spirit, which kicks off the academic year. The archbishop was there, all the campus priests, and a good portion of the student body.

I’m still so grateful to be a part of academic life due to my work and I continue to feel at home in a university setting, even though I’m no longer a student. That day was a confirmation for me that I’m in the right place. Come Holy Spirit, Counsellor All Wise!

(Picture taken at Catholic U in DC, which is NOT my Alma Mater, but a great school nonetheless 😊)

09/11/2026

I love the free book giveaway at this conference. But as I was browsing and about to claim the “In Persona Christi” book, someone else took it 😭😭😭😭 the only consolation was that I got to take “Contemplation and the Cross” by Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P. and another book on Aquinas!

05/21/2026

New blog post on my theological reflections being in The Prince of Egypt musical: https://www.heartofartist.biz/post/theatre-lessons-part-ii-the-pain-of-paradox-1

04/16/2026

In my crunchy/sustainable era: these pants were hand me downs from Facebook, and the linen/cotton jacket from a clothing swap.

I also found a natural fibers clothing boutique just down the street from my office and even though the clothes are super expensive, I felt like I hit a jackpot 🤩 also ended up impulse buying a $20 vintage dress from a consignment store close by and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s made of linen or cotton…

Maintaining an eco friendly lifestyle doesn’t have to be perfect! But it’s fun when you get a few gems like these

03/16/2026

Two blog posts in two days?! This is rare. Even rarer that I would write about lifestyle/fashion tips. But it's something I've been very interested in for the last couple of years, and I want to share what I've found with everyone else. Read here!

In the last few years, in an effort to save money, I've becoming very invested in a "Buy-Nothing" Facebook group for my hometown. Through this group, people give away things they no longer need or ask for them. I've also gotten connected with clothing swaps in the metro as a result. As I seek out se...

03/15/2026

I don’t write a lot, but sometimes I get a burst of inspiration. Check out my latest blog post on my website, about my experience with being in a musical about the Exodus. https://www.heartofartist.biz/post/theatre-lessons-embodying-truth-part-i

03/15/2026

Need another excuse to go back to DC!