About

Designing for Dopamine

How a recovering web designer started painting with light in Cleveland, Ohio

My art is loud, sparkly, and unapologetically bright because, for a long time, my inner world wasn’t. Art became my escape and my healing method. It was a way to manufacture the joy that was missing from my childhood.

I discovered that shiny materials and vibrant colors didn’t just look good, they actually made me feel safe. It is literal dopamine décor. Every shimmering line and reflective surface serves as a permanent reminder that joy is something we can create for ourselves.

While I gladly embrace AI as a helpful studio assistant to write website content and generate product imagery, my actual artwork and digital designs remain 100% human-generated. I don’t use algorithms to generate these patterns; every swirl, shape, and line is drawn by my hand. This means you might find a slight wobble in a line or a tiny variation in the texture. I embrace these moments. They aren’t mistakes; they are the fingerprints of the process, proof that a real person in Cleveland sat down to create this piece just for you.

The Science of the Shine

I work primarily with Mirror Acrylic and Metallic Foil Cardstock for one specific reason: they are alive. Unlike a traditional painting that stays the same, these materials interact with their environment. They catch the sunlight in the morning, reflect the colors of your room in the afternoon, and glow under artificial light in the evening.

My process involves building these geometric designs layer by layer. It is a slow, deliberate construction method that turns flat materials into a multi-dimensional experience. The result is a piece of art that doesn't just sit on your wall, it changes with you.

Want to see exactly how it’s made?

Read more about my studio process in the 'Notes from the Studio' blog or feel free to sign up to receive my monthly newsletter.

Dopamine To-Go

Whether it’s a hoodie that feels like a warm hug, a phone case you look at a hundred times a day, or a throw pillow that brightens your couch, these items are designed to be functional mood boosters. It’s about taking that studio energy and carrying it with you as a shield against the gray.

I didn’t want the ‘shine’ to be stuck on a wall. I wanted to be able to wrap myself in it. I created my apparel and accessories line because I believe that what we interact with every day changes how we feel.

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