Making a connection.
I create paintings as a way to communicate.
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Using words as a primary way to express myself has always felt limiting, especially when sharing an emotion or sensation. I find nothing is more concise than the message an image conveys.
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Allowing an image to show a viewer how we see our world, the little shifts in perception or nuances of a subject is more interesting and connects with a part of our mind that words cannot.
By focusing on the slight changes in viewpoint, focal point, or optical direction, I can use a visual expression to translate an idea.
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Primarily, my images capture the subject from the first-person perspective. By doing this, I hope the viewer will experience that moment I witnessed as I initially captured the image. This immediate connection of consciousness seen in another living thing, whether a flower, bird, or insect, is vital for developing a concept.
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I want the viewer to experience that split second when two points in the universe acknowledge one another in the sudden realization of awareness
From a technical standpoint, I believe
accurately portraying the color of the subject is essential for the credibility of the piece.
If the piece's perspective challenges the viewer, making it an interesting image, the color needs to be accurate so as not to throw the viewer out of the work.
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I work from reference photos, using the camera to create a quick sketch of the image. With multiple shots, I capture the essence of the image I intend to paint. By slightly blurring the background or positioning the subject on the scene with careful cropping, I’m able to direct the viewer's eye, increasing the importance of the subject or its relationship to its environment.
While in nature, I like to become quiet and see and hear the stories. I’m always captivated by a beautiful sunrise, but when I slow down and put myself on the level of the bees, butterflies, and flowers, it allows me to view into their world.
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Making a connection with another conscious being, by seeing things from their perspective sets me on a journey of self-discovery. Who am I. What does it mean. How am I significant. Especially in relationship to sharing this place with another living thing.
I want the images I create to tell a story, to show the rhythms of life. Whether the painting shows two monarchs, wings folded together in embrace, or swaying gently atop a flower caught in the moment of gently landing, or even pre-flight, these little interactions are the stories I want to share with my viewer. As a painter, I see these images as glimpses of life.