Artist Statement
I like to intuitively connect color and form together, sometimes creating a representation of an object or place, other times painting abstractly. For the past several years, my artwork has been deeply inspired by Wabi-sabi, the Japanese philosophy of finding the beauty of imperfection. It is a representation of how I view life, which is always flawed and beautiful at the same time. Sources of inspiration include nature (trees, flowers, mountains, water, rocks, animals), handmade objects (baskets, chairs, pottery, dolls, BANJOS) and the traditional music of the United States. I work exclusively with palette knives, brayers, blunt objects and my fingers. I let paint loosely fall on to my surface. The paint is then manipulated by being scraped, pushed and pulled. The effects of how the paint moves and blend is what I am most interested in. By moving the paint around in this manner my intention is to form a raw beauty. I desire my art to be meditative and soothing to the viewer, hopefully inspiring a specific mood or thought.
Artist Bio
Growing up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, I have always been inspired by the natural beauty and the unique Appalachian culture that surrounded me. I was lucky enough to have private art instruction throughout my childhood, which enabled me to explore all the different mediums and learn the fundamentals of design. At Sweet Briar College, I majored in Studio Art and Comparative Religions, with a minor in Art History. Art and Comparative Religions? Why yes! It fulfilled my lifelong interest of learning what motivates people and different cultures.
Since graduating, I have worked in the fields of arts management and education, painting along the way. Nothing makes me happier than a day spent in the studio, blasting my music and trying to figure out what happens next.
Thanks for letting me share my paintings with you!