ARTIST STATEMENT

My paintings are an interpretation of my surroundings and an expression of the vastness of time and energy. For me they represent the chaos, noise, and beauty of daily life. I detangle the bits into movements, colors, symbols and marks, using alternative tools like squeegees, straight edges, trowels and stencils in addition to crayons, markers and traditional brushes. Though abstract I like to use text and symbols in my pieces.

Nature captivates me and I strive to create paintings that express its joyful essence. At first glance my paintings have an energy and lighthearted movement to them, but on further exploration one uncovers a certain weight and layers of activity. The substrate often impacts my painting, for example when I am working on panel I apply many layers and and excavate areas whereas on paper I work more open and light-handedly. Several paintings highlight the delicacy and lightness of the surface in contrast to the materials applied to them. I paint intuitively, playing with ideas of spontaneity, color and the ebb-and-flow I encounter as I navigate life, relationships and my surroundings. Fences, vines and links represent bindings and connections whereas the raw open surfaces are the quiet and sacred spaces to which I try to give a voice.