I’m still a little surprised to be writing this.

This year, I was voted Paragould’s Visual Artist of the Year in the 2026 Premiere Magazine Community Choice Awards.

Art has always been a strange career to measure. Most of the time you’re alone at the easel, chasing ideas that may take months or years to fully develop. You never really know how the work is being received, so hearing that people in my own community thought enough of my work to vote for me means more than I can easily put into words.

Over the past several years, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to a number of public art projects around Paragould, including several downtown murals and the colorful buildings at The Station. Those projects have allowed me to share art in a way that’s accessible to everyone, and it’s been rewarding to watch them become part of the city.

At the same time, my studio practice has continued to grow. The Chrees have taken me to galleries, museums, and juried exhibitions throughout Arkansas, but it’s special to know that the work is also being seen and appreciated here at home.

Thank you to everyone who voted, supported my work, shared a kind word, visited an exhibition, or stopped to talk while I was painting a mural. Every bit of encouragement has helped me continue doing what I love.

Here’s to another year of making strange things.