Artist Statement

I believe in this world we move too fast. Life is constantly changing, going, and we rarely find the time or desire to stop and appreciate the good in life. We as a collective are often drawn to misery, stopping to stare at the car crash as we commute to life’s work. My art is to encourage people to see the other side of the situation; stop and notice the details, and perhaps appreciate the beauty even in the unfortunate, and see them in a new light. So often we get caught up in negative news voicing messages of hate surrounding communities, race, and mental illness. Yet there is wonder and color even in the darkest of times and in all subjects. In rotating our view, we can come together as a community to make a positive impact and change for the better. 

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My work is based off my experiences in life. I use pen and ink, acrylics and graphite to help create aspects of realism and add high contrast and colors to highlight the emotional aspects in hopes of bringing each piece to a personal connection with the viewer. The colors of the rainbow illustrate the melancholy or calming peace often associated with blues and purples, while reds, orange and yellow can either be happiness or brewing anger. I am often inspired by origami, specifically paper cranes, as representative of a transition from my darkest point in life (domestic abuse and struggles with depression and anxiety), to soaring to happier, self-realized times. Each piece demands the viewers time and consideration over the depth of the message, thus encouraging us to savor these small moments with our eyes and translate this train of thought into our everyday perceptions.