Justin James/ Spring Issue

‘’Art has become my voice at times when I have struggled to speak in real life. Living with bipolar means that my thoughts and emotions can sometimes feel overwhelming or impossible to explain clearly, so when words have failed me, painting allows me to still express what I'm feeling. I work intuitively, building up layers and then scraping back into them, covering areas and revealing others. That process feels honest to me; it reflects how emotions can sit beneath the surface, even when everything appears calm on the outside. If sharing my work helps even one person feel less alone in their mental health struggles, then it has served a meaningful purpose.‘’