Artist Statement

I paint because I am a horrible storyteller. Instead, I use a visual vocabulary, which provides a highly fluid, accessible, and expressive way to tell these stories. My works begin with a single visual word: an image that evokes a moment or person in my life, a book that leaves a lasting impression, a found object that holds a secret history. From that beginning, I layer vibrant colors, bold lines, and iconic images to fashion works that appear simple and balanced in tone and composition, but strive to articulate the stories beneath. I tend to explore the personal and cultural attachments to the things that serve as talismans, icons and lucky charms of the human condition.

My best work comes from when I listen to This American Life podcasts. I always have a cup of tea or glass of wine by my side, but I usually forget to drink it…it just sits there dangerously close to the water I use to clean my brushes. I know when a painting is done, when I can step back and I get a specific feeling…it’s a type of high that starts in my chest and then just radiates…and I usually feel it for about a day. Suddenly, the painting has an emotional fingerprint of its own for me and, I hope, for others.