Artist statement for Pieces of Life show:
            For this transitional body of work, I was strongly influenced by the colors I experienced all over the world, and especially in Thailand. Spending the last three years traveling through South Africa, Nigeria, France, Italy, The Netherlands, and Thailand, I was struck by how each country has its own distinct color palette.
            The colors we’re drawn to are largely influenced by our environment. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, what I know and have experienced is an array of muted greys and blues, lush greens, and a diverse spectrum of neutral and rich browns, with seasonal splashes of occasional bright colors. Getting to spend significant time in other places profoundly influenced my perceptions of the world, and (just as importantly to me) my perceptions of color.
            In traveling, I found a freedom of color. Thailand blew me away. Cars were pink and bright green. Monks wore bright orange rich colors. The water was aqua, viridian, teal and cobalt blue. The temples adorned in gold and deep reds and purples; it all excited me. You can see this color palette especially in the “Prayer flags” diptych.
            Simultaneously, I have been simplifying my compositions and refining my color palette, allowing for big washes of color in a Rothko-esque fashion. Allowing just the color to create and enhance the mood and story as much as the subject matter. You’ll see some of this influence in the painting “Calm.”
 
            In my latest works, along with color, I have also been experimenting with including drawing. I like playing with the idea that painting is an illusion. In short, drawing is often in service of discovering the painting or figuring out how to create the painting. Then, it’s all covered up or left in sketchbooks. Here, in “Sisters” and “Sleep love,” I include the drawing, as an integral part of the painting. The game is that, by using these two mediums the viewer is taken in and out of the narrative of the painting. It is neither a drawing nor painting; both mediums are fascinating, but neither is its own complete work. The viewer has the opportunity to engage with both, what the drawing probably looked like and what the painting could have been. The effect could be interpreted as a sort of ghost like realization that all art is playing with reality and illusion.
 
            And as subject matter, like most of my work, I have focused on the figure. The human body is infinitely fascinating for me. The subtle ways we interact, intimate and move through the world will always be an endless resource in my work. Recently, children have held my attention in subject matter and in life. Young children are so patently honest in the way they see the world. I like that we were all that honest once. I am enjoying the pursuit of trying to capture the essence of moments that I hope we can all remember we had once (or at least I hope we had the chance to have).
 
            I am excited and happy by these new ideas and feel I have just scratched the surface of paintings that will emerge. I humbly thank you for celebrating with me, these new works.