Purpose: Finding the Why Behind the Work
The more I draw, the more I realize every stroke needs to mean something. It’s not just about filling space — it’s about building connection and flow. For me it’s the difference between scribbling and creating art. That’s where purpose comes in.
Today’s artist hour subject was the peony. I used both standard shading and line shading to highlight different parts of the flower. It reminded me that purpose is what gives meaning to contrast — why some areas are meant to stand out, and others are meant to recede. Without that balance, everything competes for attention, and nothing truly shines.
The peony also has a symbiotic relationship with ants — the flower won’t fully open without them. The ants feed on the nectar, and in doing so, they help the bloom release its petals. That connection hit me hard. My art isn’t meant to exist alone either. My drawings find their purpose when they meet someone’s story, someone’s skin. It’s a shared process — my art helps them capture and express something real, and their trust helps my work come alive.
The Inktober prompt for today was “heavy.” Most people think of weights, burdens, or anchors when they hear that word. But I went another direction — I drew a wave. To me, waves are heavy, but they’re also alive. They carry energy, crash hard, then return to calm. You don’t stop the ocean — you learn to ride it.
That’s purpose: knowing what you’re willing to carry, and what you’re meant to ride. It’s not about having all the answers — it’s about direction.
Purpose is what keeps us moving forward when everything else feels uncertain. It’s what has gotten me through things most people can’t imagine and will likely never experience.
Tattooing has taught me that every design should have an intention. We don’t throw lines on skin and hope they make sense later. We plan the flow, the spacing, how each piece interacts with the next.
The same goes for life — we might not know what the finished sleeve looks like yet, but we trust that each piece belongs. My purpose is evolving — part healing, part storytelling, part helping others find meaning through art. If I can create something that helps someone see their own story in a new light, then I’ve done more than tattoo; I’ve connected. Purpose is the “why.”
Next, I’ll be exploring Meaning — the what. The stories that unfold once purpose meets expression, and how we find depth in the lines we draw, the scars we carry, and the connections we build through both.