Artist Statement

Self-portraiture has always been one of my go-to paths of escapism, as it allows me to articulate my thoughts, dreams, and everyday feelings. Even as a kid, I remember feeling that I could truly be myself through self-portraits and create any kind of environment I wanted to. This freedom is a prominent theme throughout my work, as I look to translate the importance of creating our lives each day and dreaming unapologetically.

The use of traditional drawing and painting materials stems from my love of drawing and admiration of the old masters, as well as various contemporary artists and eras. Working in graphite and oil pastel takes me back to those days as a child, just playing around, getting messy, and letting the materials work their magic. Inspired by the Fauvism, Impressionist, and Expressionist movements, oil pastels bring a balance between being illustrative and almost painterly that opens up many possibilities. Working digitally allows me to create in a newer and more contemporary way, where it feels there is access to a larger spectrum of color, vibrancy, shape, and texture, to name a few. Simply put, there is something about digital art that gives me the freedom to just let my imagination run wild. No matter the medium, all of these materials feel limitless as there is not just one way to use them. Aside from feeling natural, this endlessness and the constant learning experience with the materials is one reason why I always go back to them.

Overall, the work is aimed to be far higher than myself. The hope is that viewers can resonate with the pieces in a way that allows them to feel free to be themselves while constantly re-creating and re-imagining the world around them.