Artist Statement

    The central idea of my investigation related to my connection with water and its significance. My investigation transitioned from exploring how I engage with nature to exploring my own life experiences with water, how the characteristics of water symbolize my journey, and how water as a whole has shaped and defined me. I have experimented mostly with composition but also with medium, starting with oil on canvas and experimenting with printmaking and painting on plexi-glass. I started painting specifically “water” scenes that literally translated my appreciation for the ocean with works such as Solitude, Scuba Divers, and Madison River. As time progressed, I tried to push my questions and ideas by choosing subjects that are more symbolic of characteristics of water and the way experiences have shaped me.

    The first work I completed that guided my investigation was an oil painting of a vast, empty beach scene with water and looming clouds. I have focused on illustrating formative experiences in my life involving water which represent my values, challenges, growth, and memories. My works share a theme of vibrant blues to emphasize the beauty of the vast blue water that has made such a mark on my life. The blues are often complemented by bright greens and reds to exaggerate the brilliant colors found in nature alongside bodies of water. My hope is that the viewer can appreciate the awe-inspiring visual effects of water and at the same time relate to these impactful experiences.