Artist Statement

I paint to explore dynamic environments: the physical, relational, emotional, mental, and spiritual spaces that shape us individually and collectively. My interest in these environments developed as a by-product of my background in education and my own mental health journey. I’m drawn to understand and reimagine ways these environments can support myself and others growing toward greater self-connection, emotional intelligence, and delight. 

With the concept of dynamic environments as my foundation, I allow my natural curiosity to take precedent over past work, exploring a variety of subject matter—abstract and figurative work alike—which allows me to explore dynamic environments from multiple vantage points. My palette remains a common thread throughout -- colors I trace back to formative memories spent outside in nature. These colors feel like a spiritual experience and link my deeply human subject matter to a broader perspective -- Earth's own cycles of destruction and rebirth. 

Across subjects, I utilize expressionist principles that embody the tenets of a more nurturing world: delight over shame, curiosity over control, and the present moment over past concerns. I work with fast-drying materials like acrylic paint and pastels which tether me to the present moment and allow for intuitive layering and spontaneous results to emerge. Throughout every iteration of the process, I search for truth and wholeness.