Artist Statement

Artist statement for recent work

I am interested in taking what I once knew about form and composition and abandoning my realist training by pushing subjects to the point of unrecognizable abstraction, while capturing the essence or emotion of my subject through the media. My traditional acrylic and oil paint mediums themselves have also been transformed by this process by constantly experimenting with texture, technique, and the tactility of the materials its self. Each investigation leads to the development and further exploration of the expression of composition brought to life by medium. Through a collective study of material, representation, communication, and significance of subject I am able to translate through media deeper thoughts or feelings behind subject.

Precise control over medium and a highly rendered style of representation has previously been a staple throughout my work and my signature as a painting style. Outside of that box of comfort I discovered a beautiful technique by mistake that would totally change the direction of my work indefinitely. My recent work Yolandi Vi$$er is the birthing point of this new direction. Where the abstract techniques used in the piece once would have been a weakness has now turned into a strength, was sparked by a moment in of unpredictability.  When mixing colors, I noticed an interesting color separation happening when using sepia as a diluted wash. The vibrant background encouraged me to continue working with the color separation technique in strategic areas resulting with the strongest piece in my current portfolio.