I am currently studying art therapy at Naropa University, I’ll be graduating in May 2025 with my bachelors degree. I am taking the fall semester off in hopes of pursuing my dream of painting in Italy with two of the artists that have inspired me the most in my artistic life.

Autumn Skye, an artist that I have followed for the past three years is hosting a two week art seminar in September near Turin, Italy. She hosts workshops and retreats every now and then in BC, Canada which have also been a dream to join, but while looking into them recently I saw that she had released the seminar in Italy. It’s been a vision of mine to paint in Italy for a couple years now but I initially planned to do it post-graduation with the thought of working to save up more. I decided that couldn’t pass up this seminar as a perfect opportunity, so I took the chance of booking the seminar right away and switched my plans of graduating in the winter to graduating in the spring. I am dedicating my semester off to learning more about myself, the creative journey, and my intention with the degree I will receive once I am back.

Art has been a therapeutic process for me for a few years now, having first been introduced during the quarantine times of covid. I’ve found art helps me to communicate and gives me the ability to find solitude within myself to navigate feelings and emotions that come through day to day that I wouldn’t give as much depth or energy to otherwise. Each painting has a vastly different meaning that I continue to develop the ability to express more authentically, despite knowing perfect expression is more something to strive for than an artistic necessity or plan, but still being able to practice art more in-depth with the intention of therapy is very important to me. It’s also become clear that studying art therapy so I can share it with others and offer a space to do so is a vocation for me.

Tania Rivilis, another artist that I have been studying for the past 2 years whom I have done multiple school projects on, is hosting an art retreat in Tuscany, Italy in October. I came across this coincidently when I was researching different opportunities for artistic endeavors in Italy. I’ve felt stuck with where I’m at with art right now, I find myself looking for guidance and wisdom from other artists that I look up to. It’s my goal to take advantage of my semester off and travel Europe until December/January before classes begin again. I will be doing work exchange programs and hopefully meet people along the way to share journeys with.

It would be a blessing to study with both of these influential artists. Being a full time student and working part time while living in Boulder, Colorado makes things financially difficult to make the entire trip happen, so I am releasing a 20% off sale of originals and prints in hopes of assisting my Italy trip from September to January.

If you would like to contribute in another way, I also have a gofundme.