Tell a little bit about how you first got into creating art.
I was extremely timid as a child but found confidence while making and creating things. Whether in elementary school classes doing crafts or a home just doodling, it was my “thing”. As I progressed through school I found I loved being in art classes- I took numerous drawing, photography and ceramics classes.
I was always fascinated by art and art processes, and though I did have the good fortune to take traditional art classes as a child and then majored in studio art in college, the knowledge gained from classical approaches, standard art-making techniques and realism left me unsatisfied. I have since turned to experimentation and problem-solving, using alternative materials which has turned my work toward the abstract.
Because of this love of experimentation, I have always had a range of styles and my passion for exploring mediums has sometimes led to my scope of work being a bit broad. I have been known to want to get my hands on every new medium introduced so it is interesting that I have focused in the last few years on encaustic, one of the most ancient art mediums.
One overarching theme apparent in many of my artworks is of the physical and emotional connections between people
What is your source of inspiration?
Having lived in the countryside of Connecticut, the cities of New York and Los Angeles as well as The Rocky Mountains of Colorado, I have always been drawn to both cities and nature. From looming buildings and their shadows to jagged mountains or the patterns bark on a tree trunk if you look extra close, my surroundings (including the people who surround me) inspire me.
My art usually starts out with something realistic from my life but then I bring something new and emotional to the work. I often abstract the work, focusing on the elements of art themselves such as color, line, shape and texture. I may add an unexpected, irrational color to a natural landscape, or superimpose figures into a more interesting background that tells a story.
Many of my figurative pieces have no faces or abstracted bodies — they can be who ever you see them as, or who ever you want them to be
What themes does your work involve?
One overarching theme apparent in many of my artworks is of the physical and emotional connections between people.
These are abstract figurative works that show an intimacy, bond, or link between people. Some show everyday moments that may go overlooked that deserve more contemplation or honor. Others show dynamics between groups of people.
In another series of non representational abstract work, I focus on mental health and the ability to connect and express thoughts and feelings without fear. The subject matter of these works was what I thought my thoughts might look like in an abstract linear representation.
What is important to you about the visual experiences you create?
Though I draw upon my own experiences, I strive to create pieces that others can relate to- whether it sparks memories or creates certain emotions. I know that each person will bring their own experiences to the art. This is why, for example, many of my figurative pieces have no faces or abstracted bodies — they can be whoever you see them as, or whoever you want them to be. I hope to inspire others to create their own visual stories.
My non representational abstract works encourage the viewer to engage with the painting, contemplate the meaning and then pull from it in whatever way they may need.
Do you work from memory, life, photographs, or from other resources? Describe your creative process.
My creative process varies from work to work. Some pieces are pretty spontaneous and I might just give myself parameters of a canvas size and a color palette and then I go from there.
However, all of my pieces that utilize encaustic wax entail building up many layers of the melted and colorized wax, using oil sticks and incorporating other materials such as inks, sand and paper.
For other figurative works, I plan out the composition. I may refer to photos I have taken but will completely change the background or clothing or whatever needs to be changed to tell the story. I usually abstract the figures because I am trying to simplify the image to show the mood, feeling and connections of the people through color,gesture, body language and emotion rather than details. I still layer the wax and use other media to create more interest.
