Paintings and Drawings

Here you’ll find an assortment of my paintings and drawings. Most of my works are explorations into imagery that has had an impact on me personally so I rarely do commissions. I see each project as a privilege and opportunity to push my technical abilities and material knowledge to their limits as well as explore the duality or complex feelings I have about a subject. I try and utilize high-quality materials, and methodologies that promote archival preservation. Many pieces on here were learning projects and although most of the newer ones could be available for sale, some are just to show examples of the kind of art I am interested in making.

Since the methods and mediums I use vary from piece to piece, my aim in terms of style has more to do with my overall approach to trying to see a subject from several angles and proceed to find a way for the different perspectives to compliment each other. I am comfortable using a few different mediums and I attempt to chose mediums and processes that serve the subject rather than fitting various subjects into a one stylistic formula. I imagine I will continue to experiment with combining mediums for more dynamic effects. Although, I believe everything has a spiritual aspect, I do not see art as having mystical, paranormal or divine properties. I do recognize a God and believe he can be helpful although I do not believe he has an agenda for my art. I think he knows that me trying to figure things out is the best way for me to grow as a progressive spirit. I also recognize accessing the subconscious but I do not completely trust it. It seems to be more the ability to utilize pre-learned information seamlessly, than something taking over and doing the work for people like I have heard described at times. I think that is because when we try and open our minds to access that information we are vulnerable to outside influences. Maybe influences of people we are connected with in our daily lives, possibly those who we have studied but unfortunately also those trying to unethically take advantage of vulnerable minds. This is my feeling about why art makers like to be alone when they work because it feels like a safe space to be working in a vulnerable state. Since there are bound to be influences that come to mind that are not helpful because of our daily interactions or media that we see and hear but don't necessarily agree with, I think we have to question the information. Overtime I think we can get better at dismissing those unwanted influences and recognizing our own and the one's we want to learn from.

Painting and drawing is essentially placing a pigment and binder strategically on a substrate. Simple as the concept may be, if done in the right way, it can be powerful to the maker and viewer. It can also be described as a scientific process based on materials, art history, and attempting to create a visual personality for the piece. My choices in the process reveal my understanding, awareness, and dexterity. Sometimes that can be embarrassing but, if that is the biggest risk besides finances I think art makers should be bold. There is too much room for my personal preferences to claim the result is anything divine but I do recognize that without God allowing me, I cannot do anything. I do pray to be able to make something I am content with, to be able access the knowledge I have studied mentally and physiologically, to be sensitive and selective to inspiration from the subject as well as from within, to be patient, to figure out how my art making can benefit my livelihood and that it may find those who would appreciate it. I believe that allows me to separate the discovery of innovative, stylistic combinations from the daunting responsibility of making something otherworldly or conceptually profound.

I do hope my art reflects this world's complexity and majesty in a small way. I hope that is a delight to the visual senses and to the psyche. I don't know how to create emotion in art but I hope if I can be skillful and my intentions are truthful, maybe emotion will find its way in and that will resonate. I hope to appreciate the present and all we have and all that is around us rather than something fantastical and unattainable. The world is amazing, people are amazing the things people make in the world can be amazing. I hope even though art is in essence a glorified, often inanimate object, that the effort and care that go into making it produce a feeling of something valuable as well as something humanly relatable. To use simple tools to represent a view of the soul is a lofty goal to be sure and I admit I have not been guaranteed success in my attempts however, life never runs out of impactful humanity or beauty as a subject if you are looking for it without bias. I hope my works extend beyond the superficial and remind people of something genuine in others and within themselves that deserves respect and grace.

I can't always explain my reasoning but if you have questions about a piece of mine or my process in general I will do my best to answer them. Please explore my projects to learn more about what I do.