Life is fleeting, complicated, and predictably unpredictable. This causes everyone to have vastly different experiences throughout their lifetime, and as such, everyone lives in vastly different realities. No two realities will ever be perfectly identical, and that is what I attempt to capture in my work. I try to replicate—and represent—the different twisting, turning paths of people's lives. I am interested in how people struggle with their identity, and their sense of self; how they struggle with illnesses, both physical and mental, and so much more. Simply put, I have a fascination with what people experience, and the struggles they face.

 

As such, I often represent the figure in some way, though the medium I use often changes. The specific subject of the work dictates the medium I use, but the most common in my pieces have been dip pen and ink, colored pencil, watercolor, paint, and sometimes printmaking. The overarching subject matter is almost always the same with my work; humanity; it’s the mediums and the specifics that are in a constant state of flux. 

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I find when I create figurative works, I often utilize some form of visual contrast. I want to see tension in my work, so I often attempt to create it with sharp line work, or with bright lights next to deep shadows. In my work it is common to see gentle, curving figures encapsulated by harsh, sharp lines, or the opposite; harsh figures drawn in delicate tones. Legends and myths occasionally twist their way into my work; usually in reference to Greek Mythology. I am particularly drawn to the stories of Hades and Persephone, or Atalanta and Hippomenes. 

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Tales of mythology aren't always as interesting as the stories we tell others, or ourselves. However, in trying to capture different types of stories from different walks of life, I am led to draw from the well of mythology or religion. I also call upon inspiration from my favorite artists; Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, and Claude Monet. I admire the loose or expressive styles of these artists, and I try to find a balance between a naturalistic style, and an expressive style; because I believe that’s where people’s souls can truly be seen; somewhere between nature and emotional expression.