Artist Statement

Painting is one of the many ways in which I choose to embrace life. It is an act of translation and preservation through paint into memory. The human figure signifies for me with greatest potency our connection to life and it is the malleability of the face and its ability to contort into endless emotional expressions that I find most intriguing. With age these expressions become ever more interesting as a result of developing wrinkles and changing facial texture. Furthermore, when mature adults engage in what is considered youthful behavior, there emerges an element of strangeness that I consider to be humorous. My enjoyment stems from exploring the various nooks and crannies formed through these expressions.  Over time I have developed close relationships with the individuals whom I paint and I consider painting their portrait a way to further examine these relationships and preserve their memory.