Artist Highlight

"I am an independent artist working out of my home studio in Haymarket, Virginia. I exhibit my work at local galleries and regional art shows along the east coast. I also produce custom pieces and murals for people's homes and businesses. 

Working from photographic references, my impressionist paintings begin with a sketch of the subject followed by multiple layers of loose and relaxed brushstrokes. Depending on the subject and how I depict the image, my color choices, brushwork and attention to detail vary with each piece of work. Choosing what to paint comes from an experience or feeling I've encountered, or simply from what I find interesting. I don't strive for deeper meanings or concepts behind these pieces, instead, they are created for the purpose of sharing the beauty that is all around us.

My bird paintings stem from my fascination of sumi-e art and are a product of my two favorite mediums to work with--spray paint and acrylic. Using neutral tones, the background is spray painted with several misty layers creating an abstract backdrop of different shades of color. Working from a photo, I use acrylics and variety a of different sized brushes to paint my objects giving them finer detail with each layer. 

My grid portrait illustrations begin by drafting square grids on both my drawing surface and the photo I am working from. Using only fine tip pens, I individually fill in each square with shapes, symbols and words that connect to the person's life. My work develops strong areas of contrast with some patterns having solid areas of black, while others have a very faint texture/line quality. The finished product is not only a unique and detailed replica of the image portrayed in the photograph, but it also holds a personal story of the individual. 

Thanks for checking out my shop! I hope you enjoy it!"