Artist Statement

My work is an expression of my exploration into humanity. I’ve always felt more like a bystander rather than a participant in everyday life. I am a detailed observer and find beauty in the simple and ordinary.  As an introvert, I find myself observing unpresuming moments in life and finding peace in them. My current body of work explores candid subjects like sleeping figures and unaware portraits. I find vibrance in the mundane and choose to honor these subjects that would otherwise be glanced over. I choose to paint the figure as a universally understood symbol. I hope viewers engaging with my work can feel a connection with the work as well as find a sense of comfort. 

The technical narrative in my work engages with the conceptual. The application of paint, color, palette, and opacity all shape the perception of the work. Muting colors in my palette, choosing what parts of the figure to engage in detail aids in my narrative. There is a constant internal battle as a painter to reconcile objective reality based in realism and my own perceptions of reality. The technical activates the emotion.  

The emotion of my portraits and figures changes from painting to painting. Primarily, my work focuses on calm and personal moments, giving the viewer a glimpse into the personal and relatable situations. With the weight of the world being so heavy, I hope my paintings tap into the universality of being human and by doing so, offer a familiar comfort to the viewer.