This body of work is a reflection on the subtleties of life’s many beginnings and endings. Having been born in Alabama but raised up north I learned how to appreciate Alabama’s landscape and the great outdoors through visits with my grandfather and family members. Ultimately I moved back to the south and embraced it.

In these paintings, I draw from multiple sources. I use images my grandfather took to inspire my work as well as personal studies and images of places meaningful to me. Through the paintings, I draw many parallels with the cycle of life. The seasons reflect the circle of beginnings and endings, light renews or fades with each day, and plants nourish and beautify. Capturing these glimpses of seasons, weather, and nature becomes a healing process for loss and a symbol of something greater.

  Every person has an identity, a distinct personality, things and experiences that shape who a person is. I have an interest in observing people, their expressions and how they interact. My work raises questions. I want people to think about the piece when viewing it. In some ways my work should make people uncomfortable. I show internal and external conflict in my subjects. Each piece has something that is being unrevealed; a secret.

   When making my art, I lean toward realism. I enjoy the technical aspect of painting realistically, and I believe this better portrays my concept. With these techniques I am able to show subtle expressions and emotions which otherwise could have been lost. In some of my pieces I reveal something about a person by ripping and de-threading the canvas to show part of their identity, a life event, or a story about who they are. This layer I paint abstractly because I still want there to be mystery.

   I use a variety of mediums when creating this body of work. I primarily use oil paint, but I also work with watercolor pencils, watercolor, and acrylic paint. I enjoy the process of layering. I layer with water color pencil to create the color I desire. In some areas I even add watercolor on top of that. The individual portraits are two separate paintings that are layered on top of each other. The underneath layer is done in acrylic, and then there is a layer of linen or canvas with an oil painting on top of it. I use indirect painting when using oils and this layering process helps me achieve my desired effect. These techniques are a way to create more depth in my work; however, there is more to it than that. Each person has a front or persona they put up, but underneath it is so much more.