Artist Statement
Landscape
I see paintings everywhere I go - walking to my children’s school, driving to the store, looking out the window. Whether looking at the familiar silhouette of Spencer Butte from my balcony or observing an arrangement of flowers, I trust the feeling of recognition in my body, my “North Star,” that tells me the composition is interesting and worthy of painting just the way I see it, no matter how mundane the subject matter might be. I often draw a small sketch with pencil in my sketchbook and use that as a guide, or I paint directly on the surface, using my memory as much as observation, especially at times when the thing I saw is momentary and has shifted before my eyes. I see colors and shapes interacting together like one hears a musical chord or contemplates verses in a poem. The cycle of the seasons, moving from the vibrant energy of spring to the contemplative stillness of winter, provides a spiral path on which to walk, and a promise that what I might miss in one season can be found in the next. This promise, along with daily drawing and journaling, keeps creative momentum going as I balance the practice of painting with a full family life.
Still Life (Archive)
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.