Make art, make good trouble, and be kind.
Art as Resistance. Art as Meditation. Art as Reverence.
Original watercolor art rooted in Appalachian culture and the belief that love is always more powerful than hate.
My Artistic Journey
As a watercolor painter, my work has always been shaped by my belief that art should be meaningful. As a queer man and a former criminal defense attorney, I know firsthand what it means to show up for people who need a voice. My art attempts to be that voice -- to celebrate the people and places that don't always get celebrated, and to show up to the fight when it matters. You can follow my journey on Substack.
About Puma Love
I am a self-taught, outsider artist -- dedicated to honoring nature, celebrating diversity, and advocating for social justice through my creative work. In what seems like a previous life, I spent twelve years as an attorney in North Carolina, focusing my law practice on public service and criminal defense for those unable to afford legal representation. In my late thirties, I made the bold decision to resign from law and pursue my dreams, which led me to plant a field of lavender and start creating watercolor art. For eight years, I farmed lavender on a large scale, initially at Old Field Lavender Farm and later at Spiral Mountain Farm. For the past five years, I have lived most of the year in a teardrop camper named 'One Love.' During winter, I embrace a nomadic lifestyle in warmer climes, accompanied by my loyal sidekick, Bella, a Jack Russell terrier mix.
Nomadic Life in a Teardrop Camper
"One Love"
One Love has been my home and adventure vehicle for over five years now, rolling between the mountains near Asheville and the Florida sunshine with brushes, paint, and Bella riding shotgun. Now settled for the summer (and likely the autumn) in the Carolina Piedmont near Chapel Hill and Carrboro.