Artist Statement

Upon viewing my work samples, it may seem that there is a lack of cohesion in terms of visual presence, technique, and level of completion. Although the two means of creating work represented were completed during different periods in my artistic practice, each piece is based on the same fundamental concepts. The first set of paintings you see focused on drawing connections between nature, string theory and Taoist philosophy through the materiality of paint and relationships between color. My studio practice was tenaciously focused and evolved naturally over time. Since exiting academia, I have found myself continually faced with the challenges of focusing on a consistent body of work as my life has been in an ever changing state of being. Due to the lack of a dedicated studio space, my practice has transitioned from `wet on wet oil painting process to more controlled, hard lined drawings. Nonetheless, nature and energy are still a driving elements and the primary subjects of my work.

My recent attraction to mountainous landscapes began with a momentous hike I took last summer along the Appalachian Trail in New York State. The experience of working to be a self-sustaining individual in the wilderness coupled with the sheer beauty of the mountainous landscapes fundamentally effected what and how I make drawings immediately upon return. My subject matter and drawing techniques instantly shifted focus to distant mountainscapes, as if by making the drawing I was feeding my desire to embark into those wild remote places. As the drawings progress, the line work became more intricate and intentional while also maintaining an uncontrolled, seismic nature. My personal energy towards these landscapes began to manifest itself visually through my line work. The lines transformed the mountains in an unexpected way; they became dynamic, and alive instead of silently still. The repetitious drawing process is also very meditative causing each line to be representational of the energy of each individual moment as well as the overall the landscape itself.

In my time as Saltonstall, I would like to further develop the mountain drawings and begin to translate them into the language of painting. I plan on spending time exploring the colony’s grounds and visually documenting the surrounding landscape through traditional drawing and painting methods. I then plan to apply these studies to a more free form, studio based painting practice. With a dedicated studio space, I will be able to adapt the compositions to suit a larger scale as well as create a more three dimensional presence. This will enable the piece to overtake the viewer and allow them to experience the essence of the landscape.

I feel that the environment at Saltonstall will provide me with a balance of both the isolation and community I require to focus on laying the foundation for a new body of work and further my pursuit as an independent artist.