News

Today, my mom and I voted! We did our civic duty and made our choices for the future of California and our country. I voted for Xavier Becerra and his Democratic running mate. I also followed the California Democratic Party's recommendations on the ballot propositions. As for many of the other candidates, I honestly didn't know much about them. When it came to people seeking another term in office, I generally voted yes. Two of the biggest issues that stood out to me were fighting back against Donald Trump and his MAGA movement, and taxing the rich. As far as...

I’m 61 years old, and I’ve come to a wonderful realization. I don’t have to prove myself anymore. I don’t need a high-paying career, a prestigious job title, a fancy house, or a trophy bride to feel successful. I don’t need to impress anyone with my income, my neighborhood, or my social status. Those things simply don’t matter to me anymore. I paint for leisure, make music for pleasure, blog because I have something to say, and write books because I enjoy creating them. I can sell my work or give it away. The choice is mine. Nobody tells me...

During my upper-division studies at California State University, Fullerton, I took two elective philosophy courses that would have a lasting influence on my life and my development as an artist. Those courses were existentialism and aesthetics. Although they approached philosophy from different directions, both challenged the way I thought about myself, the world around me, and the very nature of art. To this day, I consider them among the most meaningful courses I took during my college education. Existentialism: What Does It Mean to Be Alive? Existentialism asks some of the biggest questions a human being can confront. Why are...

From psychiatric hospitals to mental health clinics and private therapy sessions, one cannot overlook the importance of art in the treatment of mental illness. But what exactly is art therapy, and is it still useful in this modern age? I can personally say that I have experienced art therapy in all three settings and have found it superbly useful in dealing with and improving my mental health. It remains today one of my favorite forms of treatment and definitely the most enjoyable. But why is art therapy so effective? To begin with, art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that...

For most of my life, I have been involved in the arts in one form or another. Whether it is painting, drawing, illustrating, writing books, comedy or composing and recording music, creativity has always been a major part of who I am. But there is something else that has played an equally significant role in my life, and that is mental illness. I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective bipolar disorder, a condition that has affected my life in ways that are sometimes difficult to explain. I have experienced psychosis, depression, mania, hospitalization and the challenges of living with a serious...