Dare to Live is an illustrated collection of poetry about the meaning of life. Many of the poems are spiritually inspired by the Christian faith, provoking questions about existence. Key concepts in the poetry include love, heartache, happiness, sadness, hope, and despair. My faith is my identity and forms the basis of my work.
Much of the artwork is lineless, uncontained, and without bounds. The color palette contains bright hues of yellow, orange, green, and blue to reflect the essence of light and life. The poetry book uses both projection and metaphoric illustrations that contain luminous qualities to reflect the concept that God is light. 1 John 1:5 reads, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” The overall aesthetic symbolizes the book’s investigation of the meaning of life through its minimalist approach.
Throughout the work, the illustrations feature a female figure who narrates the story. This female figure represents a personal struggle to uncover the secrets of the universe. She expresses her longing to understand the meaning of life and God’s reasoning behind creation. Though she knows it is impossible to fully comprehend this concept, she still questions Him in moments of despair. She contemplates the true definition of joy, and how it can be used during moments of confusion. She discovers that it is within life’s unanswered questions that we find the faith to trust in God, and a drive to remain curious.
