“The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.”
Frank Herbert, Dune
My primary focus is the depiction of human and animal forms, with occasional experimentation into the realms of still life and landscape. My process begins with sketches and studies done in pencil and charcoal, starting with loose gestures and refining to a more academic model. With a preference for panels over linens, I begin the painting with thin washes of intensely saturated color; over this I will lay thicker, more naturalistic tones with an impasto finish. My early influences include the likes of comic books, Nickelodeon cartoons, and, of course, Star Wars - these influences have informed my preference for vibrant color and graphic shapes. As a more mature artist, I now have a great appreciation for the Symbolists like Gustave Moreau and Bay Area artists such as the late, great Wayne Thiebaud. I am motivated to create art as an educational experience - drawing and painting are a means to explore the world around me while stimulating all the senses.