I started this drawing project after I began to experience increased joint pain and stiffness in my hands due to lupus. At that time, I was unable to paint or hold a pen for long periods of time, but I still wanted to find a way maintain the strength in my fingers and hands on a daily basis. I decided to create quick sketches in ink, one per day, leaving myself without any ability to erase or redo anything, and then apply a simple watercolor wash over the line drawings. This meant that I couldn't be as particular about how each drawing came out, and I had to accept the final image as is, sort of how I learned to accept my chronic illness and adapt to the limitations of it. I chose a subject matter close to my heart (and with nearly infinite references): my four cats, images of whom occupy probably 90% of the storage on my phone.

Media: pen and watercolor pencils on paper

You can view more of the project on Instagram