In my most recent work, I depict the human figure naturalistically within abstracted environments. My work is biographical and implicitly narrative in nature. Some of the figures I paint are friends and acquaintances that have shaped me as a person. Some are complete strangers that I abstract to convey my own introspective emotions, and those that I have observed in others. I combine that with my love for the natural world surrounding me. I am interested in themes of growth, aesthetic and relation. My work is a tool I use to understand my surroundings and find connections with other people. I seek to express my gratitude for the relationships I have, their importance in my life and the beauty each person possesses within their appearance and personality.

            I prefer to work with oils on either canvas or wood panel. My color palettes are usually more neutral and muted to convey a more naturalistic representation of color that you would see in real life. Including less realistic pops of vibrant color within my figures allows me to bring them forward and create liveliness within their forms. I keep my oils thinned with linseed oil to ensure smooth application and ability to glaze colors. This allows me to alter the vibrancy and tone of the colors layered together, without completely covering them up. I have also began including organic materials into my compositions, such as pressed flowers and preserved insects. By attempting to mimic natural environments through combining painted depictions of plant life and adhering organic materials to my piece, I am able to create more diversity in the texture of my work.

Through my work I hope to counter the lack of aesthetes in modern art. I believe finding purpose, understanding and beauty in our relationships and environment is an essential practice in growth and fulfillment as individuals. By finding muses in my personal relationships, interactions, and environment, I’m able to channel this sentiment into my work and display the beauty I find in my life for others to view and enjoy.