happy independence day!

Well, “Alyson Independence Day” anyway.* Two years ago today was my official last day of work as an Asylum Officer. A few months later, I embarked on this weird ride of meat diagrams and art peddling. I’m thankful for the friends I made and the numerous refugees I helped during my time at the Asylum Office, but I absolutely cannot imagine not having “meat artist” on my resume now.

So thank you to my friends and family who have supported me, encouraged me, came out for shows, and brainstormed pork puns with me. Thank you to all the businesses, large and small (who shockingly) wanted me to paint a mural, illustrate a cookbook, create original artwork, or design a poster. Thank you to every person who helped me, whether by hosting my art show, providing delicious food and treats at said show, creating an Etsy treasury, or wrote a blog post with my art. And thank you to anyone who has ever bought one of my prints or an original, commented online, asked to use my work as a tattoo, or even just had a chuckle when looking at my work at a show.

I couldn’t do any of this, couldn’t have this life, without you all.