Artist Statement

As an idea-driven artist, I actively seek subjects that take me in a variety of very different directions as I document and interpret cultural patterns. The subjects of my paintings stem from a desire to provoke questions and elicit strong emotional reactions in the viewer.

Although I am always experimenting with new techniques, my painting style can be characterized by several common markers. My brushwork appears abstracted at close range, but merges into realism at a distance. Layers of resin and wax glazes give depth and atmosphere to the painting, and result in seductive, glassy surfaces. I use the fluidity of the paint in controlled drips to add texture and pattern. Carving and burning the wood panel extends the range of marks that I make. I often choose to introduce materials specific to the subject, and I especially enjoy the challenge of creating delicate imagery from harsh industrial materials.

While the ground that I cover is diverse, common threads in my work are a sense of longing and loss – whether I am examining lost childhoods or fleeting recollections of lost places of significance. I investigate collective memory, using the visual vocabulary of my own experience to inform my work. This results in small, limited collections in which every painting is part of a greater whole.