Artist Statement

I have long loved how the most simple, everyday moments and movements collect over time to make a life. I collect happiness by ticking off a list of tasks, joy from pleasant conversations with strangers, and wonder when reliving simple memories. My abstract mixed media paintings are inspired by and reflective of the way our full, beautiful lives are comprised of little rules we try to follow layered with unplanned detours and lively interactions.

I work by combining expressive application of paint and drawn line with collected materials such as vintage packaging, ledgers, workbooks and hand-written records. This piecing together of materials results in energetic compositions that evoke joy, spark curiosity and reward close inspection. 

My paintings always start with a highly organized base layer of collaged paper. This creates an ordered, grid-like surface that grounds the painting. The next layers of paint and marks evolve intuitively - I make an effort to keep planning, critique, or analysis at bay for as much of the process as possible. In the beginning color and visual texture builds quickly in a loose, highly gestural way. Gradually, I transition to carefully considering the dialogue that has begun between color and mark, and take my time adding, editing, and layering to build depth and detail. The resulting non-representational pieces are a joyful explosion of expertly managed color, suggesting nuanced moods and memorable moments large and small.