Artist Statement

Though I don’t claim the title ‘artist’ formally, by circumstance it may seem that I am one.

Growing up, I had the privilege of being slightly less privileged with traditional engaging distractions such as video games or elaborate toys, so I was left to find ways to occupy myself that were not only enjoyable but also challenging and meaningful enough for my mind to feel like I was pulling new information into my realm of understanding.

Don’t get me wrong, I sank hours into flash games growing up. I even had a website I created on Weebly where I scoured the internet for my favorite flash games and then embedded them on the site. It’s ‘jeffreysbestgames.weebly.com‘, which is still up to this day, though many of the games may not be playable anymore as Flash Player is no longer a thing. I haven’t touched the site in ages, and Weebly has since changed the default assets used in the theme. Still, I find no reason to go back and change it.

Moving on from flash games, I then tried to play some traditional PC games on my computer, which often came with the added bonus of computer viruses. As a kid, I hit a personal threshold where I didn’t like seeing my father having to bring the PC to a technician to get it repaired, and I wondered if there was a way I could fix the computer viruses.

Eventually, after many popups, corrupt files, and GTA IV drunk cameras, with trial and error, I felt competent in my ability to understand the inner workings of a computer on a hardware level, then soon on a software level, allowing me to spot threats, isolate dangerous files, as well as repair, replace, and upgrade necessary hardware.

Fast forward years later, and that same mindset followed me into the Adobe Creative Suite, later sewing, home improvement, woodworking, and more recently music. Throughout those years, my ability to take on such challenges allowed me to expand my life into new frontiers, some more gracefully than others, and some with more impact on the lives of those around me.

Often, there has been an underlying expectation from those around me that there would be a monetary goal at the end of the tunnel. I’ve found more often than not that money takes the soul out of it, as I find myself somewhat limited or constrained by bounds that require compromises to something that would have otherwise flowed naturally.

As these things have always been happening in the background of my life, I typically approach things from a very unique and specific perspective at a very unique and specific time in my life. Not to say that money is a deterrent or an obstacle, but often in the learning phase of these outlets, trying to turn a fun, relaxing, or entertaining hobby into a business introduces undue stress, especially when the intention was never to make money in the first place. I have been able to make stable income to support my hobbies, and allowing them to grow independently of monetary pressure is something that I’ve only been able to value in retrospect for most of the outlets.

That being said, this website is a digital catalog of my work, ranging from streams of consciousness to renderings of my workspace, songs to clothes, and nearly everything in between. As I expand my exploration into the ability to turn thoughts and needs into reality further, I will document and share my work and findings on this site.

Thank you for being here.

Peace be unto you,

Judo