​

As a self-proclaimed color theory nerd, color doesn’t just speak to me – it shouts, whispers, and laughs in layers. It is the way that I see the world and the foundation of my art. I like all of the colors, and I enjoy playing with unique color schemes, especially ones that push the boundaries of harmonious composition. To this end, I often use nontraditional color palettes and explore techniques such as optical mixing and use of benday dots and other patterns to create vibrating effects and add movement. I find it fascinating the way that we can trick our minds into seeing what isn’t there, and I enjoy the challenge of creating harmony from these uncommon color combinations and techniques.

​

My approach to color and use of layers lend well to 2D mixed media art. I use a variety of mediums – such as spray paint, oil paint, acrylic paint, ink, and paint markers – to create texture and depth through layers. I typically use birch panels because the subtle grain provides a solid foundation that contributes to texture and is perfect for experimentation. I combine familiar compositions with interesting and nonsensical elements, such as flat patterns over accurately rendered objects. The effect is many unexpected moving parts brought together in unanticipated harmony. I focus mostly on landscapes and flowers because they are perfect for using a vast array of colors, and they are what I know. I spend a lot of time outdoors, I garden, and I am a wildflower hunter. Much of my work is inspired by places I’ve explored.

​

Ultimately, my aim is to create an immersive experience that draws viewers’ eyes into compositions that are playful and intense, yet harmonious and balanced. I want my art to be as engaging as it is surprising. My pieces reward close observation with a tactile sense of discovery, and I want viewers to be pulled into the stories portrayed through my layered compositions, noticing additional details the longer they engage. My work highlights that not everything has to be taken so seriously. It challenges the norms and encourages viewers to notice more than the expected and the mundane. I want them to experience joy, awe, and curiosity from the nonsensical elements of my work, to delight in the clash and cohesion of materials, and perhaps to find a bit of themselves in the playful juxtaposition of everyday icons and abstract forms.

​