Artist Statement

I am documenting the contemporary culture I live in by painting representational portraits. I am currently focused on a series of paintings of women. I am highlighting activities and jobs various women are engaging and excelling in, especially those seen as stereotypically male - they are wilderness guides, athletes, restaurant and business owners. I believe that producing these works celebrates the progress women have already achieved through dedication and hard work.

I am interested in poses that are straightforward and in actual settings. I paint in a realistic representational style in order to invite the viewer to connect easily with the subject. As a contemporary portrait artist, I use realistic techniques to represent the physical level, and then engage the viewer through the simplicity of the composition and subject matter to connect with the person painted beyond the physical. Through this work, I aim to document the present day moment of where I live, to reflect humanity, and to emotionally move the viewer from observance to engagement.