Every year, Connor’s Heroes hosts an Art Ball to raise money that will provide hope, guidance and support to families facing pediatric cancer. For the last two years, they’ve invited me to be an Artist Leader — working with their Childhood Heroes to create works of art that will be auctioned at the event.

For this piece, I prepared hidden messages on several pieces of paper and then had the kids paint over them to find the messages. Then I photographed each child I worked with and painted a mini portrait of them to celebrate all the hope they inspire. It’s amazing how you can spend a couple hours with these kids, bonding over your favorite colors and being silly with spray bottles, and suddenly they’re branded on your heart for life. This is an experience I truly cherish each year and I can’t wait to go back!