The 27-year-old never considered herself an artist, but she discovered she had a knack for painting when it became a“I’m pretty sure I got a B- or a C in high school art. I always thought I was terrible,” Alnes said.
After she graduated from Portland State in 2015 with an MFA in creative writing and creative nonfiction, her mom bought her a watercolor set as a way to “de-stress.” Alnes immediately embraced her artistic side by setting aside time each day to paint.In the fall of 2015, she started her Ph.D. program in creative writing at Oklahoma State University, where she experienced a number of exciting, yet challenging moments in her life.
that ended her career as a Division I athlete. It also shares how she found joy in running again years later—as well as studying for exams, teaching, and attending class. Whenever she felt overwhelmed by her chaotic schedule, Alnes turned to sketching and painting for much-needed personal motivation and meditation. On April 23, 2018, Alnes posted her personal artwork for the first time on Instagram: a