The primary focus for my work has always been the interactions of disparate elements. While my aesthetic style has been heavily influenced by expressionists and mid century modern abstract painters, I find inspiration in myriad sources. For the duration of my study and practice as a painter, I have been drawn to energetic works with bright, bold colors. My own work often pushes my palate to be more intense through the juxtaposition of contrasting colors. I really enjoy contrasts in general and frequently seek to combine opposites such as ab ex washes and drips within a hard edged, geometric composition. As a product of the media saturated digital age, I always listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks (often with a television as well) while I am in the studio. The titles of my works come from the cultural artifacts (whether a lecture, punk rock song or a short story by David Sedaris) that inspired me as I was working.
In 2006, I became more interested in the notion of eliminating barriers between the art and viewer. I quickly shifted to signing my abstract works on the back to allow the owner or curator of the work to decide the orientation. I sought ways of further developing the notion of audience as collaborators in the artistic process rather than passive viewers, and with “At the Bottom of Everything,” I began creating interactive paintings on multiple canvases which can be moved and rotated by the viewer. As I continue to explore this mode of creation, I am excited by the possibilities afforded by new media as I seek to create unique and dynamic experiences for those who enjoy my art.
