Artist Statement
Inspired by the physical qualities and cycles in nature, I make artwork that explores the intersection of harmony and discord. I rely on observation and perception to investigate structural order. Using materials to express ideas, I seek to make the intangible, tangible.
I work in several disciplines and pursue experimental techniques. My paintings and drawings appear lively and intricate. Each includes thousands of layered marks and takes months to complete. My painting process is one of restless application and manipulation. I mix oil paint with marble dust, oil mediums, sand or sawdust and apply it to canvas or wood, using brushes, knives and rags. Afterwards, I aggressively rework the surface using nails, sandpaper, sticks and anything I can find to see how the paint will react. Similarly, my drawings result from a relentless attack on paper with colored pencils, Conté crayons, erasers, graphite, highlighters, ink, markers, pastels, wax crayons and whiteout. Similar to the patterns intrinsic to our natural setting, my compositions merge broad shifts with minute details. They are visual metaphors for the rhythms in our environment.
I work digitally and with mixed media to describe my surroundings in a more literal sense. My digital images use elements from photographs I take in urban and natural settings. They address my disconnection to nature as an inhabitant of a large city. Working with mixed media, I explore issues such as consumerism and society’s impact on the environment. I organize clippings from commercial mail, magazines and newspapers according to color, size and subject matter. Using acrylic medium and water, I layer the clippings into final arrangements and add to their surfaces with cloth, colored pencils, graphite, ink, markers, thread and wax crayons. I find satisfaction in the fusion of materials and watching their contrasting attributes unite.
Ultimately, making art enhances my relationship to the natural world. I hope others will find a deeper sense of themselves and greater respect for nature through examining my work.