As a child, they painted with a sense of pure freedom, unburdened by rules or expectations. Every brushstroke was an expression of curiosity, a moment of connection with their inner world. It wasn’t until their teenage years that others began to recognize their talent, and soon, requests for commissioned art started coming in. Growing up with limited resources, they took advantage of the opportunity to turn their passion into a business. But over time, the art that once flowed effortlessly from within became constrained, shaped more by the desires of others than their own. They lost the spark that originally fueled their creativity, and eventually, they forgot how to create from a place of pure inspiration.
   That’s when they decided to stop taking commissions, marking a pivotal moment in their creative journey. They stepped away from years of creating based on others’ expectations and embraced the freedom to reclaim their own voice. They were excited to transition into a new phase of artistic exploration, where their work was driven by personal discovery rather than external approval.
   This shift excited them, as it brought together the technical skills they had honed with the endless possibilities of self-expression. They were eager to see what would unfold when they created not to please, but to understand—experimenting with new forms, stories, approaches to color, texture, and composition.
   This change was more than just a shift in technique; it was a reimagining of their purpose as an artist. They were letting go of habits shaped by external expectations and reconnecting with the original impulses that first inspired them to create. What would their voice sound like when it was free from limitations? What did it mean to create from a place of curiosity, without the need for approval? Could they reconnect with the version of themselves who created art so freely as a child?
   The work they were creating now reflected this deeper journey of self-exploration. Each piece was an unfolding, a new insight discovered through every brushstroke. It was a dialogue with themselves and the world, and as they moved away from commission-based projects, they embraced the freedom to discover and express more.