The Boy Who Left

"This portrait revisits an image I first explored years ago while creating a sailor for a close friend. What stayed with me was not the sailor himself, but what he represented: youth, possibility, adventure, and the desire to leave familiar shores in search of something more.

Growing up in a small northern Alberta town, I often dreamed of a larger world beyond the horizon. Looking back, the sailor feels less like a character and more like a symbol of that longing. He embodies the hope, curiosity, and optimism that accompany the beginning of a journey.

For me, The Boy Who Left is a reflection on change, growth, and the courage it takes to imagine a different life for yourself."