Artist Statement

I'm an oil painter who primarily works in portraiture using strong contrasting colors to emphasize inner life and moments of connection. I came to portraiture for its ability to create a bridge between the viewer and the subject and show something hidden or unexpected. I’m interested in creating characters with depth and contradictions that can tell an individual or collective story. I paint to explore internal questions and routes to empathy. When I paint, ideally, I'm searching for something new in myself or familiar in someone else; something true.