My work delves into the unsavory aspects of life. Physical/emotional pain, angst and paradoxes are the fuel in my artistic endeavors. It is important to maintain a certain level of accuracy and realism in my art. European impressionism and late 19th century realism are used as points of reference for their innate ability to portray emotion with vibration and accuracy. Expressive realism is a term I use to describe my art. The representation of the human condition requires commitment to the accuracy of the figure, while including expressive (quick and anxious marks) to be as faithful as possible to the angst, ambivalence and pain I strive for.  Life is full of paradoxes and enigmas. The contradictory nature of myself, others and society fascinate/elude me. Paradoxes, angst and enigmas are one in the same for me. The enigmatic nature of society causes mental anguish. Paradoxes of the personalities I encounter evoke confusion, leading to distraught and uncomfortable thoughts. Angst and uncertainty of life provoke constant, persistent worry about trivial situations. All of my work includes these conceptual themes in some way, shape or form. My portraits/figures are a facsimile of a moment in time in which I am under distress from any of the above-mentioned themes.  

 

Conceptual themes and imagery dictate which medium(s) I decide upon. With little to no planning, I often dive right in. Preliminaries and guidelines place limits on my work which ultimately hinder the finished product. As an intuitive artist, I problem solve as I go along, changing techniques/mediums constantly while in the midst of the process. It is of the utmost importance for me to paint/draw in an expeditious and concise manner. Rarely do I ever spend more than 2-3 sittings to complete my work. Working in this manner allows for a candid experience. Emotions and feelings don’t last forever, thus, working quickly aids in an honest representation of my current dilemma. In addition to being therapeutic (the actual process of creating), my art aims to trap the viewer in my reality. We all share a common discomfort in life (at some point in time). The ability to utilize these discomforts in a productive and relevant way is my current artistic venture.