Artist Statement and Artistic Background

I have always been fascinated with the subject of art.  Even when I was young art has always been my passion.  I explored different media and different concepts throughout the years.  In high school I became fascinated with the use of color, shape and form.  As I moved past high school I removed art from my life to find a career that would be more “realistic.”  I soon realized that my passion remained with the subject of art and quickly moved my focus back to the arts.  I express myself in three distinctly different ways.

In my drawings I explore the identity of objects.  I try to explore what makes objects unique and what kinds of things are important to notice.  How do our perceptions and point of view affect our skills to view a scene?  I explore not only the identity of objects but also the relationship of objects between one another.  I explore ways images can be combined and used to create a new meaning.  This is what I try to convey in my artwork.

In some of my other work I also explore some of the monsters and villains present in society.  These monsters may be seen in fashion or in the current education system but I try to convey my message while leaving the images related to the fantasy and science fiction references.

In my functional work I explore the ideas of organic lines and forms. I try to understand how basic lines and shapes relate to one another and find new and inventive ways to combine the most basic of shapes to create an interesting form.

Printmaking is my media of choice.  My mark making is the best way I explore the uniqueness of objects, people, and myself.  I work with marks: their different meanings, their uniformity, and their chaos. I am inspired by the ability to convey emotion through mark making. I believe that there are no mistakes made in mark marking but rather that it’s a continuous drawing experience that involves responding to the path the mark takes. For some, mark making is seen as a careless activity but I would argue that it is a thoughtful engaging process.   Additionally printmaking is a very physical process of art.  Each step takes time and effort to create the work. As I spend time in the studio I am fully immersed into the artwork and for a time I lose myself in the artwork, I am completely focused on the process at hand.

My background as an artist varies greatly.  I have taken a variety of art classes ranging from drawing and painting, to metal working and ceramics.  I continue to explore new media and am constantly amazed by the works of others artists.  I find great inspiration in the work of artists such as Chuck Close, and Dale Chihuly.