Statement

        Art acts as a conduit for the complexities of what it means to be human. It catalogs both the universal and the highly individual experiences of people throughout history. Whether as a literal documentation of historical events, an exploration of the body, a dissection of the psyche, a reverence for nature, or a reach for the divine, artists reflect humanity through the act of creation. I employ oil paint to capture the nuances of the human experience through environmental, social, and figurative work.

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        I value balancing the focus and personal connection of working in a studio with the more inviting practice of painting outdoors. While exhibitions allow the opportunity to connect with the viewer through my finished work, plein-air painting allows connection through process. Working outside eliminates many of the barriers and creates a more immediate, accessible experience that dissolves the separation of the “Art World” and the “average person”. 

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         In contrast to the community-based method of plein-air painting, when working in the studio, I favor focusing on the connections of historical iconography and current issues. In the artistic canon, the body has varied in its telos from an object of desire to a manifestation of divinity. Similar to the range the body encapsulates, the simple items one depicts in a still life represent class, death, or creativity based on the social context in which they were created. Exploring canonical representations through a contemporary lens and finding ways to engage these ideas with a wider audience acts as the core of my practice