- Artist Statement
- Resume
- Onlocation MKE
Artist Statement
I am a painter, and I believe that form is a powerful language. Visual stimulus like music can evoke a visceral response, and painting for me is a suitable channel for communicating what I cannot describe with words.
The first thing to know about these interior paintings is that they are made on-site over time. Initially, I begin with sketches to figure out what will give me the best composition; I take into account perspective, nuances of color, time of day and how light moves through the space. Being present becomes key to knowing, and through the act of painting, I am connected to the objects and the space. Because the spaces are often altered over the time in which the paintings are made, I have to remain flexible and give up a certain amount of control.
The paintings are done primarily in the residences of people that I know; yet, sometimes they feature places to which I am not directly connected. I am drawn to areas that are occupied by things. When I paint, the people whose spaces I inhabit are absent, yet they are metaphorically present through their belongings. The paintings become portraits of how humans accumulate and live, and they become a snapshot of the times by showing what people have and use in this moment. I tend to focus on the utilitarian and day-to-day, because I enjoy the challenge of seeking beauty and order among our clutter.
