Artist Statement

The visual investigation and interpretation of what I examine in the natural world, rooted in replication and emulation, results in systematic deconstruction and reassembly. The act of voluntarily copying a pattern or texture and then changing it to make it uniquely my own is the ultimate exercise in seizing and maintaining control of my surroundings, on my own terms, which is something I often struggle to do in daily life in a world of constant stimulation and information overload.

My drawing process is guided by inconsistency and imperfection, the very things that make me human. In order to develop a deeper understanding of the natural world, both physical (external) and emotional (internal), I visually engage with the patterns, textures, and forms that I find so mystifying through the act of copying and altering them. I begin by replicating a specific pattern or concept, employing a system of deliberate markmaking that celebrates, and is usually guided by, the prospect of chance. Source patterns are derived through various means, from the traditional observational approach using the naked eye, to scientific-based tools of inquiry like compound and stereo microscopes.

Colors and mediums are selected throughout the creative process, as I respond to the initial marks in a fluid and free-form manner, while maintaining precision with the execution. While every piece is uniquely considered, my mixed-media drawings typically include any combination of: graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, chalk pastel, ink, marker, watercolor, gesso, and acrylic.

In order to be a knowledgeable participant in the current art discourse, I have utilized artificial intelligence software in the development of some of my recent source imagery. This is a topic which is justifiably polarizing and complex, and, although my newest works are moving in a different direction, I am curious and cautiously optimistic about AI as another tool for artists and designers in the future. My brief exploration of this technological tool has resulted in a broader and more comprehensive visual language, which I see as a net positive.