HOW I GOT STARTED
My artistic career began as a professional ballet dancer. I danced for six years, and an unfortunate injury led to complications that ended my career. When I stopped dancing, I turned to visual art for a creative release. I experimented with every medium, and fell in love with colored pencil. I found a striking similarity between the technical precision of colored pencils and ballet that resonated with me deeply.
In my art, I am interested in recreating moments in life that are so beautiful and intriguing they force me to stop and take them in. Observation is an essential part of human existence, and frequently gets lost in industrialized cultures. I am constantly seeking to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with colored pencils, and to promote the importance of taking time to disconnect and appreciate beauty.
MY WORK
Botanical Series:
I have always been fascinated by the exotic beauty and healing tranquility of plants. Some of the most exquisite color combinations occur, like the bold red of a poppies' petals set against a cool green stem or the fiery oranges that take over in the autumn months. Sunlight provides the best lighting to showcase these natural beauties. It has a way of perfectly illuminating morning dewdrops or lighting up the sky at sunset to cast a golden glow on a daffodil's petals. Capturing these beautiful nuances with colored pencil is one of my favorite challenges.
On a deeper level, plants offer us much insight into a healthy life. They grow as much as they can, and don't limit themselves. Harsh elements cause them to develop stronger roots to survive. They add value to other living things around them such as nutrition, healing, air, and shelter. And my favorite quality is that they grow, move, and react at their own pace. I hope that these works are not only visually inspiring, but that they also serve as reminders of the lessons we can learn from nature.
Paris Series:
On a trip to Paris, I discovered the French concept of "flânerie". This word means taking a step back to marvel at one’s surroundings such as a city’s architecture and history, or the uniqueness of fellow pedestrians. A flâneur disconnects with the world in order to better engage with it. Capturing the essence of flânerie is an essential part of my Paris series. These images recreate my memories of experiencing Paris, of walking onto the Esplanade du Trocadero and seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time, looking over my shoulder to see the sun setting on the Left Bank, or observing a quirky Parisian sipping an afternoon coffee at a cafe.
Ballet Series:
As a former ballet dancer, I am continually inspired by the images of ballet. Sometimes a grand moment on stage, and other times a simple gesture in a rehearsal studio. My ballet series touches on all aspects of a dancer's work: performance, rehearsal, class, etc. In ballet training I learned to appreciate structure and the nuances of intricate detail. Working in pencil requires incredible precision, hours of technical work, and leaves little room for error.
In all the work that I create, I am interested in recreating moments in life that are so beautiful and intriguing they force me to stop and take them in. Observation is an essential part of human existence, and frequently gets lost in industrialized cultures. I am constantly seeking to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with colored pencil, and to promote the importance of taking time to disconnect and appreciate beauty.
Would you like to get updates on new work and upcoming shows? I share my newest projects, events, and behind-the-scenes details with my subscribers.