Artist Statement
Landscape
There is a quiet, rhythmic music in the landscape just outside my front door. Whether I am looking toward the constant silhouette of Spencer Butte as the seasons shift around it, or observing a vase of flowers by a window, I am drawn to the visual poetry of the everyday. My work is an act of gratitude—a way of honoring the places and objects that make up the fabric of a life.
Each piece begins with a felt response to "color chords" found in the world. I am fascinated by how a landscape transforms with the light and the seasons, moving from the vibrant energy of spring to the contemplative stillness of winter. My approach is never a formula, but I often look for large foundational shapes to ground a composition, while reserving a specific area of detail to hold the eye. I aim for a precise harmony, using high and low contrasts to support a singular, intentional moment of focus.
By choosing subjects that might seem mundane—a familiar hill, a view from a room—I hope to elevate the commonplace through color and form. These paintings are intended as a resting place, inviting a sense of serene awe for the natural world and the simple, beautiful reality of our place within it.
Still Life
Using subjects such as flowers, lace, paper, wood, books, and windows, I weave perception and invention together to create images that feel both keenly observed and intentionally constructed. A search for beauty, order, and balance is ever present in the way I encounter life, intuitively guiding my selection of objects and color combinations. Inspiration comes from art history, geometry, literature, memory, nature, and found objects, resulting in a mixture of contemporary and classical motifs. Recurring elements include circles, piles, and boxes, with an inclination towards symmetry in the overall design. Beginning with red, blue, yellow, and white, I mix my palette paying close attention to how specific color combinations effect mood, space, and light. The resulting paintings are often described as contemplative visual spaces where the commonplace is imbued with hints of metaphor and mysticism.