My work gravitates toward realism, although I enjoy all forms of artistic expression and experimentation. For me, working in realism is an opportunity to explore easily overlooked nuances in the world around me. The process of looking deeply and interpreting with each stroke gives me a profound sense of connection and gratitude for the wonders of even the simplest of objects.  

I most often work in colored pencil and watercolor. 

Colored pencil is a relatively new medium with humble origins. Although artist-grade colored pencils have been in production since the beginning of the century, only in the last 25 years has the medium begun to find its place among more traditional fine art media. 

Because this medium is so new, there is still room for artists to experiment and to develop new methods and techniques with it. Partly, this is because colored pencil requires an approach to color that’s different from the traditional color theory used for paint. The colors that a pencil lays down are more transparent than paint and are manufactured with proprietary pigment blends, so layering any two colors will subtly adjust tone, value and color. Each subsequent layer will alter the perception of the layers underneath. So drawing with colored pencil is a kind of building process: layer after layer of colors must be laid down to get the proper tint, depth and texture.   Completing a piece will take up to 100 hours and include up to 40 layers of pigment.  Additionally, colored pencil is a very unforgiving medium; it’s almost impossible to make changes once pigment is applied.

The complex process of using colored pencil is similar to what I enjoy most about working in watercolor, because, much like watercolor, colored pencil is a transparent medium that needs multiple layers to achieve its final effect. Moreover, colored pencil is unique in its ability to render detail, so it is well suited for articulating realistic elements. 

Exhibitions

Fine Art Education

Fine Art Studies & BA in Aesthetic Philosophy, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
Workshops with various established artists