Artist Statement

I find myself fascinated with the aesthetic of the female form.  Beyond the form itself, I see mysterious beauty deeply layered with complexities; strength, power, vulnerability, joy, fear; all unique to the individual.  I see these same qualities symbolized in the natural world around me.  My art connects nature and the female form into a single anthropomorphic entity, capturing both the characteristics of the overall form itself, as well as the complex puzzle of interwoven female forms and the purpose each individual serves as a part of the whole.   

Expectations of femininity, motherhood, grace, nurturing, and other traditional gender roles continue to consume the image of women in the eyes of many, igniting a battle for women to break through these expectations into nontraditional roles and find full potential in all facets of being.    

Historically, we have witnessed the ebb and flow of women’s collective position in society.  In our current political and social climate, we are seeing the empowerment of women, rising up in strength, raising our voices to be heard, and standing up to be seen.  My artwork creates a narrative for this spirit of change and the rapid questioning of social and political norms.  The women come together to create a juxtaposition of fragility and strength in the natural world, representing the power of women uniting in a crescendo of one voice and supporting each other to create something greater than the individual.

My personal journey through fertility issues, anxiety and depression, body image, and independence can be seen through my artwork.  My progression of healing is evident through the evolution of my art as I continue to find my voice and navigate my way through life as a strong and confident woman.  My art focuses on the inclusivity of all women, all bodies, and all voices.  

The majority of my drawings are created using graphite pencils and Prismacolor colored pencils.  I frequently combine both black and white imagery with pops of color to create a strong visual contrast, mixed with occasional gold leaf. I work in two dimensional and low relief layering. Each form within the overall piece captures the essence of the female figure through shading and contouring, resulting in a high contrast pencil drawing of a larger organic element.