In this portrait, I am reconnecting with my powerful love for art as well as the sense of activism I’ve always felt. I took watercolor to a paper pad and wrote “to make art is to be free” then crossed out free, replacing it with “alive.” after it. To me, these words convey the idea that making and appreciating art should not have to be a right or a freedom, rather an instinct, a basic need, a fundamental part of all life. Thank you for viewing my submission!