Artist Statement
Currently, I teach art at the high school level in the far west suburbs of Chicago. I recently earned my degree in Art + Design Education with an ESL (English as a Second Language) Endorsement from Northern Illinois University. In my studio practice, whimsical elements find their way into my artwork as I guide real life subjects away from their natural structure. My dreamlike pieces evoke a sense of movement with airy color pallets and loose compositions. I am continually expanding the range of materials that I use to create art, from traditional to unconventional. I experiment with found objects both as mediums and as a means of variation in mark making. This can include but is not limited to natural elements woven within synthetic materials, recycled tin foil and cardboard in place of a paintbrush while watercolor painting, or dryer lint from laundry in sculpture. I enjoy using nontraditional resources while creating my art to support the idea that art can be made from anything, and one does not need the most expensive set of oil paint to create something expressive and meaningful both to oneself and their viewers.
I am inspired by nature and folklore and create a marriage of the two as they influence my work in an ever-changing manner, as well as both the Rocky Mountains and Midwestern farmland since I grew up in the midst of both environments. I work to keep a light-hearted impression for the viewers of my work as a hope that they feel happiness and a sense of connection from their lives into the similar yet quirky worlds that house my compositions. I continue to explore mediums and motifs that expand from my experiences and am endlessly considering ways to incorporate similar themes creatively into an art classroom setting while building a safe environment for students to explore, discover, and blossom. |