Artist's Statement

I'm a Contemporary Realist working in a variety of media, including: oil, acrylic, pastel, and charcoal. My primary focus is fine art portraiture and still life works that document the simple beauty of ordinary people and everyday objects. To achieve my aesthetic objective, I pay very close attention to the light falling across the form, constantly analyzing and deconstructing it into the variety of values that best describe the subject. As I work, I investigate each value and temperature shift to determine which ones further express my interpretation of the image — sometimes modifying the visual reality to enhance the psychological impact or mood of the piece. 

I begin each work loosely, and strive to remain loose and large with my mark-making for as long as possible, adding just enough detail to define the subject to my satisfaction. Even with highly resolved pieces, my goal is to stay as loose and gestural as possible; both to preserve the vitality of the work and to leave something to the imagination of the viewer (who is, after all, my partner in the piece).

Exhibitions

May, 2008 — Scooter's Coffee House, Oak Hill Charcoal Scenarios — Solo Exhibition, Austin, TX

March, 2008 — Scooter's Coffee House, Parmer Lane Ars Eclectica — Solo Exhibition, Austin, TX

May, 2007 — Texas & Neighbors Irving Arts Organization — 5-State Juried Show, Dallas, TX

March, 2006 — Ordinary People, Barnes & Noble, Sunset Valley — Solo Show, Austin, TX

December, 2005 — Neither Here Nor There, Texas State — Senior Exhibition, San Marcos, TX

May, 1999 — Spring Invitational, Austin Community College — Juried Exhibition, Austin, TX

April, 2009 — Austin Independent Project Show — Group Exhibition, Austin, TX

Awards and Honors

December, 2005 — Mitte Fine Arts Honors Program, Texas State — Invited, San Marcos, TX

May, 1999 — Spring Invitational Austin Community College — Purchase Award, Painting, Austin

May, 1999 — Spring Invitational Austin Community College — Purchase Award, Drawing, Austin

Art Education

December, 2005 — Bachelor of Fine Arts, Texas State — Studio Art, Painting, San Marcos, TX

1996-1997 — Elizabeth Locke, Austin Fine Arts School — Classical Realism, Austin, TX