Follow the progress of my coconut octopus painting in bold green and purple. The underwater scene is still evolving, inspired by fascinating creatures from the Houston Museum of Natural History. Watch as this little octopus and its companions come to life on the canvas.

Creativity with constraints began long before my art career. Growing up with ten siblings shaped my frugal habits, leftover paint practices, and unexpected artistic inspiration.

Before I paint an animal, I want to see it in person - not a picture or a video - in real life. Everywhere we go, we take a trip to the zoo. We have visited zoos all over the country.

The first grotesque wore a purple robe, which clearly pushed me into monk territory. So, I leaned into it. Every monk after that wore the same purple robe. Each one stands against a bold background — green, orange, and pink. (After all, why settle for one color when you can use three?) The repetition gave the series some visual unity — like a weird, slightly disheveled, color-coded choir.