The magical world I create through my art has been my sanctuary from an outside world that feels overwhelming to me. I feel most myself when I am making art and nature is my biggest inspiration. As an autistic person, I feel stuck between two worlds. In one world, I’m being told that I am too much. Too loud, too quiet, too emotional, too withdrawn. I can’t seem to get it “right” which hurts me. The other world, the magical one I created through my art, I feel immeasurable freedom. I feel accepted, safe, loved and understood. I love frogs because I feel a kindred spirit to them. Like me, frogs are resilient, unique and ever changing. I show who I am and what I love through the frogs and whimsical scenes I create. Through my artistic expression, I feel hope for the future, I feel compassion for the past and I’m aspiring to love and accept myself exactly as I am in the present.