Artist Statement
Someone once told me to paint what you know. What do I know? I know sitting in a decrepit old truck in the rain, crying because my phone just got shut off again. I know a painful gnarled knee that isn’t covered by my insurance. I know unwanted sexual aggression from men, and bags under my eyes from working multiple jobs at once. I know crooked teeth and thick glasses and hair where I don’t want it. I know middle age. I know losing friends and loved ones to untreated mental health issues. I know wishing to sink into the floor to hide or simply evaporate away. I know making the most difficult choices for my body and my future. I know envy. I know guilt. I know struggle.
But, I also know the warmth of the sun on my face. I know being moved to tears from a beautiful song, and elated dancing in dark sweaty house parties. I know unique affection for four legged friends, seeing the shimmering tops of tall mountains from a tiny plane window, and a best friend that can finish my sentences. I know how it feels to have your own private bubble of love. I know a warm bed. I know gratitude. I know freedom. I know life.
I paint the human figure because it is a vehicle to express all these things I know. It is a way to capture moments of our collective experiences. Various bodily forms and facial expressions can say a lot without saying a word; the subtle raising of an eyebrow, the arching of a spine assuming defeat. I find that the richness of oil paint helps bring colorful two dimensional figures to life on the canvas. Sometimes I also paint things I observe in nature because they help to shape my human experience. My main goal with my work is to get all these feelings out of myself, and my hope is that my art will resonate with someone who may be saying to themselves "yeah, I know that feeling".
