Statement

I have been making art since I was a child and my artistic practice has gone through many phases and produced many different types of work. Primarily I make art because doing so brings me joy and I hope that it brings joy to others. I purposely choose themes and subjects for my work that are comforting, uplifting, and inspirational because to me art has a therapeutic power and I try to tap into that as much as possible. Sometimes the power is simply in humor, color, or natural beauty, sometimes it is more complex, drawing on history, or deeper cultural and psychological references.

I love to look at others’ work, both contemporary and historical, because I feel that all artists draw energy from each other and serve as an artistic voice for the culture. I try to make myself permeable to other ideas while also holding fast and honoring my own when that seems appropriate. I currently live in an old mill building that has been renovated as artist live/work spaces and I love the camaraderie of other artists.

I can’t seem to stick to a “signature style” so I have given up trying. I approach each work I make as a new life that I am bringing into being and I constantly question the hows and whys of its existence. When I am able to respond well I feel that the work comes from a place beyond my conscious understanding and I am always delighted to partake in this mystery. I try to constantly take new risks and to follow unknown paths in my work, even if doing so sometimes feels strange or impractical. I try to trust my instincts more than my preconceived notions. Finally, it is the materials themselves that dictate how my work is done and I love to focus on the properties of the paint and colors themselves and how best I can put them on a surface, or into a three-dimensional object.