I am interested in exploring the energy and essence of natural phenomena through painting; translating perception into a personal painting language that combines abstract and recognizable imagery.  I create worlds that connect the familiar and the fantastic; using the beautiful and the strange as the point of departure from everyday experience to the otherworldly.

Each painting begins with a compelling form or pattern, an impression of light or color, or a sensation that resonates.  I look to create imagery that evokes wonder and stimulates curiosity.  Working from diverse sources, including botanical structures, insect wings, tidal pools, wave formations and radiating lights, I simplify and distill forms to find what is essential and move beyond the literal.   It is my intention to extend the imagery beyond retinal experience and reference the texture of sound and touch; the sensation of air and space.   I am interested in exploring how certain combinations of shapes trigger a visceral response in the viewer, in much the same way that an eyespot on a butterfly wing can startle a predator, or the dots and dashes on a petal will guide an insect to the pollen at a flower’s center. 

My approach to the painting process is inspired by the formation of complex structures and patterns in nature.   Elements evolve according to their own predilection to multiply and expand, embodying the progression and pressure of growth.  I paint each form with a specific character, materiality, and energy in mind and and allow these forces to shape the evolution of the painting.  My painting technique reflects different physical substances;  central elements are illuminated with dense layers of detail while secondary shapes remain diaphanous, painted in thin veils of color.