“Through figures and landscapes, real and imagined, I play with the notion of our personal grottos–places of reflection, immersion and sanctuary where our psyches can re-envision themselves in the world and transform. Loose figures are interwoven in a cave atop a warming landscape in Afternoon in the Grotto, depicting a long-awaited reunion and renewal of those relationships, while a sanctuary reveals itself in Reverberations, a nighttime landscape born entirely from imagination, unplanned, over months and layers of paint. In my studio practice, I utilize a range of techniques - working in monotype, en-plein-air, or in layers of oils from digital photo compilations (of photoshoots that I stage) - for their differing speeds in the creation process, allowing me to explore imagery in new and exciting ways, and to hold space for both thoughtful and spontaneous, expressive applications. In part to balance my own
energetic needs, through this technical narrative, I embrace the ebbs and flows of mental health across
the seasons.”