I am a figurative painter. My paintings evoke ideas of place, memory and how we perceive reality. The figure is often placed in an abstract or non-sensical environment with paint layers obscuring portions of recognizable forms. I have departed from—and returned to—this style for many years, aiming to capture ideas about relative truth and recognizing our views of each other are incomplete. I am interested in presenting the figure in an unexpected way that allows the viewer to “fill in the blanks” or bring their own history and interpretation to the viewing experience.

The addition of language in the layers of paint is used to confound, hint, support or re-frame our understanding of what we are seeing. Words add a sense of discovery, and prompt us to reconsider our initial thoughts when viewing the paintings. I find this type of engagement with the mind to be one of the many reasons visual art is a valuable vehicle for presenting persuasive ideas and perspectives.