Artist Statement - 2026

In my paintings, I use ordinary objects, toys, and the figure to stage theatrical, dramatized narratives, emphasizing an artifice that highlights the construction of the scene. I use my studio space as the setting for my paintings to prioritize painting from observation and to explore what can be constructed within its limitations. 

Regardless of subject matter, my painting process often begins with some sort of formal interest; for example, an angle of my studio that could make a compelling composition, or working with a strong lighting setup. I arrange my objects in multiple iterations, manipulating them until a narrative and formally engaging composition emerges from their configuration. I build up my paintings indirectly, layering color in multiple sessions to create an engaging surface. As my work has developed, I am more intentional with my approach to applying paint. For example, I use drybrush to describe a worn or textured surface, or apply thicker and more direct paint to describe smooth or plastic objects.

When I began developing this body of work, I was constructing enigmatic scenes that addressed my own apprehensions, aiming to balance subtle humor and nonsensical scenarios with a feeling of unease. Dramatic lighting, as well as the body language and expression of figures in the composition, are vital to achieving a desired emotional tone. When choosing items for the still lives, I seek toys whose facial expression and visual characteristics add to the desired mood of the piece. 

After experiencing a sudden and devastating loss midway through this body of work, my paintings became more melancholy in tone. I shifted my conceptual intentions while painting, leaning further away from humorous narratives and instead reflecting on this loss. For these works, I use a cool light source as opposed to warm, and often observe my subject at nighttime to achieve deeper contrasts.

By painting observationally, I am encouraged to slow down, look closely, and learn to see and appreciate form and shifts in color. My interest in antiquing and finding old toys influences my desire to include these objects into my paintings.These toys serve as stand-ins for humans and become characters in my narratives. As I continue to develop in my work, my intentions and interest in exploring this subject matter remain similar. I intend to create compositions that are engaging both technically and formally, that also address larger elements of the human experience.