Artist Statement

My interests range from figurative to our natural world. I want to create images that are both abstract and expressive while being representational. Manipulating the eye to see flat images as forms in space through color, gives the suggestion of perspective. Color helps me relay intentions that can be perceived differently depending on the viewer. Color can push and pull an image ever so slightly, morphing in real-time. My work attempts to capture that natural playfulness of color.

Since transplanting to the Pacific Northwest in 2012, I've been focused on the beautiful world that surrounds me. More specifically, our sky. Cloud spotting has become a great enjoyment of mine. It's inspired a whole series of work exploring and expressing my appreciation for how beautiful, imaginative and tricksy our sky can be.

I haven't painted figuratively in some time. With the sudden passing of my cousin Maria I was brought back to the figure. This year also marked the passing of my beloved cat of fifteen years, Jasper. And then, most recently and sadly, my eighty one year old father passed away.

This new figurative series calls back to themes from some of my earlier work. It's an investigation into understanding my own uninhibited reaction to death, to loss and to the inevitable passing of all living things. Through color & form and through the figure, this series attempts to fully embrace and reflect on the range of emotions that come with death, including the strange, the uncommon, the taboo and everything in between. It's important that we allow ourselves to feel all the feels and complete the cycle.

How do I grieve? Am I grieving correctly? Will I find comfort through this, from this? Who will comfort me? Asking these types of questions I think is something we all grapple with. We may never find that understanding. Maybe we aren't supposed to. These paintings seek to challenge the viewers narrative around death. I hope they can bring some sort of comfort as well as reflection.