My art is a translation of my explorations of my environment. Painting is just a way for me to focus the multitude of external stimuli into a single unified expression. I can walk down the same path ten times, even a hundred times, and see something different and worthwhile.
​
Every painting I make is about something I saw and wanted to understand and incorporate into my memory. The process of creating art is almost more important to me than the product. When I look at a tree, I appreciate its beauty; but after painting the same tree I understand it on a deeper level - its structure, the colors and textures that make it unique.
​
Most of all I really love the small objects I find in nature. I am especially drawn to pods, nuts, and seeds. There is something so special about choosing a chewed up walnut, its labyrinthine interior exposed. These small natural objects, which are perfectly sized for curious human hands, are tokens of our connection to nature.
​
I choose to paint our local landscapes because Western New York is as beautiful a place as any other in the world, but it is particularly special to me because I live in it. I believe it is important to value the beauty of our local natural world. We don't have to travel to another place to see something exotic or breathtaking, we just have to go outside.
Western New York:
Landscapes and Natural Objects​
I begin a painting with the inspiration of something I have seen or experienced that I found particularly beautiful, meaningful, or mysterious. I spend a lot of time outdoors walking. Nothing makes me happier than walking through the woods on a nice day. Usually my pockets are full of acorns and pebbles when I return home.
About Me
I am an artist living and working in Genesee County, NY. I've been making art since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Being home-schooled until the age of 13 allowed me to spend all of my spare time playing in nature and creating whatever my heart desired. I have always been interested in any art modality I encounter, whether it be painting, sculpting, sewing, or building. I graduated from the State University of New York in New Paltz in 2007 with a B.S. in Visual Arts. Most of my time was spent in the ceramics studio. After a post-college lull in my creative life, I have been exploring painting my surroundings, as I am an avid lover of nature. Over the past few years I have dedicated myself to nurturing my creativity, and am excited for the myriad of concepts I want to explore in the future.
​