My Artist Statement:

As a fine artist and illustrator my work strikes a balance between simple depictions of vivid imagery and intensely detailed object portraiture. My work seeks to combine memory, nostalgia, and the whimsical elements of fantasy rooted within the context of reality. I draw a lot of inspiration from classic fantasy novels such as JRR Tolkien's “Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, children's fairy tales and fables, modern illustration, and medieval era inspired impressionist artwork such as the works of John William Waterhouse. Ultimately I hope to somehow grasp dreams and the impossible to my own reality. I long for moments long gone or unknown that are just out of my grasp. My works  hope to capture these fleeting experiences and daydreams in a way that is concrete, yet ever failing to meet the depictions envisioned in my head. I find that my work is both incredibly personal and yet keeps the viewer at a distance, as what evokes longing within my own mind is not necessarily in common with what causes someone else’s longing. I work primarily in acrylic and gouache paints on a variety of canvas sizes, anywhere between 4 feet to 4 inches. I’ve also expanded into printmaking working in relief carving, linocut, and screenprint.  My style of working with paints and pigments is one that relies heavily on intense color and semi-realism, juxtaposing delicate shadows with graphic repetition of hatched mark making. I started out making art as an illustrator and that has never really left my practice, informing both my choice in composition as well as my common use of outlining subjects within my paintings. More than anything my work seeks to make the viewer feel surrounded by comfort, beauty, and familiarity within a dreamy setting.