STATEMENT

My current body of work is exploring the balance between realism and simple form; between traditional painting and modern design. Inspired by Esher’s work and Polya’s studies on crystallography, as well as Uglow’s beautifully mathematical compositions, I developed a visual language to transform a traditional studio nude into an imaginative expanse of my own. 

Furthering my interest in juxtaposition, I use solid color fields, a minimalist technique, to subtly weave my own realism onto the canvas. Carefully mixed oil paint creates the illusion of depth. Hard shadows underline this third dimension, an unsettling limitation to the generous backgrounds. By reducing the setting to simple forms, the observer is asked to engage and fill in the blanks. Breaking with visual expectations and building an unexpected wall between the conventional and modern pose not only questions of style, but also of emotion.  

My paintings use a mix of both acrylic and oil mediums. Acrylic paint allows me to work expressively and in thin layers, as it is quick-drying and easily altered. This enables me to sculpt my protagonists layer by layer at a high pace, which gives them a natural, fluid dynamic. Oil serves as the contrast. I often use it straight out of the tube, applied with a spatula. The textural butteriness keeps everything in place; adding weight to balance out the composition. 

It is my aim to reach the highest understanding of each medium I work with, for their individual properties and limitations, just as I strive to reach the highest understanding of my own style and method.