Artist Statement:

There is a story behind each painting which stems from the idea that a piece of the artist is revealed in some way. Whether it turns out to be a mood, a feeling, or personality, it’s still a part of the artist that the viewer takes with them. Therefore, the viewer creates a visual relationship with the painting, which allows development and assessment of their own opinions about my art. This is why I want to share my paintings outside the studio.

When a viewer sees my art, they usually ask, what am I thinking while I paint? How do you know what colors to paint, etc? The only answer I can think of is that I usually paint intuitively, learning as I go, just feeling my way along the canvas. This way I am focusing mainly on process and taking what I learned from one painting and applying it to the next.

This process of experimentation and expression can especially be seen in several paintings, through the colors, the size, and brushstrokes in particular. For some, I even used a toothbrush to find a different texture and intensity to the strokes, such as Algae Bloom, Toothbrush Painting, and Toothbrush Soliloquy. Often times, even the exchange of a painting tool can create a new challenge or aesthetic.

With that said, the next question usually relates to my choice of painting the human figure, basically, why do I find it to be the most interesting? My main interest could be that I can take a person and paint them several times, but each painting captures a different moment or personality. The painting that best describes the achievement of "same but different", emerges in the painting I call Piece of Mind. Piece of Mind has two layers to it that were painted almost a year apart from each other. The under painting portrays a darker, sadder time when depression challenged my way of life. The over painting consists of pieces of my face spread across the canvas. The over painting shows how I was able to overcome my sadness but I still felt broken and lost. So I decided to fragment my face, illustrating my determination to piece myself back together again.

I found that the figure is also the most challenging for me, and this challenge intrigues me and encourages me to repaint it over and over again. I also take a break from the figure and just concentrate on shape and line to see what can happen on the canvas without a visual foundation. And each time I finish a painting, there is a little piece of me captured and placed in front of an audience so they can judge me not only as an artist but who I am personally. These are my paintings; painted pieces of self; moments of my life made into a piece of art.

Exhibitions/Awards:: Awards
2008 Senior Art Achievement Award

May 2008 Kappa Pi Artist of the Month

Exhibitions
Solo Exhibition, Artful Dodger, Harrisonburg, VA May 2009

Juried Art Exhibit, Artful Dodger, Harrisonburg, VA February 2009

Art Show Invitational, "RED" Darrin-McHone Art Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA December 2008

Artist of the Month, Darrin-McHone Art Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA November 2008

Harrisonburg Artists Exhibition, KRONOS Gallery, Staunton, VA October - November 2008

First Fridays Downtown Art Walk, Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA October 2008
Site Sponsored by Linda Hoover, Ameriprise Insurance

Café Artist Display, Barnes and Noble, Harrisonburg, VA September 2008

Featured Artist, 7 East Art Gallery, Woodstock, VA August 2008

Artist of the Month, Larkin Art Studios, Harrisonburg, VA July 2008

Down in the Lounge Artist, Clementine Café, Harrisonburg, VA June - August 2008

Collaborative Art Exhibition, KRONOS Gallery, Staunton, VA April - May 2008

Gallery Display, Middlebrook Gallery, Staunton, VA April - May 2008

Collaborative Art Exhibition, ArtWorks Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA January - February 2008

2nd Annual Art on the Lawn, Giles County Court House, Pearisburg, VA September 2007

Undergraduate Art Exhibition, Sawhill Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA April 2007