---

Artist Statement

I have always been intrigued and inspired by the endless varieties of human expression. Creating figurative works has helped me observe and listen closely, to move beyond first impressions and to empathize with others. My inspiration often comes from travel or my sketches of everyday scenes.

In my still lifes, I focus on ordinary objects—perhaps a shirt, a flower, a teapot—and using loose brushstrokes, energetic rhythms and bold color, I work to make them extraordinary and to remind myself how important these small items can be

As I evolve as an artist, I am abstracting the figure more, playing with exaggerated color and focusing on shapes and movement to capture the emotion and spirit of the person or of a particular scene. Ultimately, I want people to be uplifted by my art or to participate in it in some way by creating their own story.

---