Honoring My Brother Through Art: The Journey Behind Emotional Demonz

I’ve always had a creative streak, but it wasn’t until my brother passed away from an overdose in July of 2020 that my creativity surged into something deeper—something raw, intentional, and healing.

I did a little drawing back in high school, but nothing worth bragging about. After he died, though, art became my lifeline. It was the only outlet that allowed me to process the tidal wave of grief I was drowning in. I’d sit for hours on my porch with nothing but a pencil and paper. The sun would go down, and I’d still be there, drawing in the faint porch light because creating was the only way I knew to survive the pain.

I knew I wanted to do something with the art—tie it to my brother, honor him, give all that grief a purpose.

In January 2022, I decided to start a small business selling prints, stickers, and eventually clothing featuring my artwork. I had no idea what I was doing or where I was headed. I didn’t even know what my message was yet. All I knew was that I was determined to push forward with everything I had.

Shortly after launching, I created my first NFT. Then I built a website. Within a few months, I found myself running a full-fledged clothing line.

In June of 2022, I vended at my first show. I was terrified—so nervous that I almost threw up when the first person walked up and asked, “So… what’s this all about?”
I just started talking. The words poured out of me, unfiltered. And somehow, that honesty connected. That person ended up spending a few hundred dollars right then and there because they believed in my mission.

Seven more shows followed, wrapping up my vending season for 2022.

Then, in September, everything shifted again. I had some commercially printed items—shirts, hoodies, purses, shoes—lined up on my table. Someone picked up a pair of shoes and asked, “Who paints your shoes?”

I didn’t even know custom shoe painting was a thing. I told them the shoes were commercially printed. But that single question sparked an entirely new direction.

Now, I paint shoes in my spare time outside of my full-time job. Every piece carries my message: No Judgment.
We all have a story. We all have a path. It’s not our place to judge the demons someone else develops along the way.

This is how I honor my brother.
#emotionaldemonz
#iloveyoubradbatts

My early art was just pencil to paper—pure emotion with no direction except to survive grief. Many of those pieces are symbols of confusion, heartbreak, and loss. Some are simply art. But so many carry a depth of pain only I fully understand.

I still struggle with confidence. Sometimes I look at my work and can’t believe I created it. This journey has been a roller coaster—ups, downs, wins, failures. But I keep reminding myself: this was never about me. It’s about Brad. It’s about honoring a soul with the biggest heart, a tough exterior, and a wounded inner child who just wanted love and acceptance.

My whole mission is rooted in compassion, unity, and non-judgment.

Along the way, I’ve had people—people I thought cared about me—try to break me, even using my brother against me. It forced me to harden my heart in some ways, but also to remember: they have their own demons too. That’s why they lash out. And I can’t judge them for that. I just have to let them go.

This journey began with pain, but it continues with purpose. And that purpose is love, healing, and honoring the memory of someone who meant everything to me.