Exploring how ancestry influences our daily subconscious is integral to my work as a visual artist. I am interested in the parallels of our lives with those of our ancestors and, therefore, showing possibility of fellowship within humanity by communicating the quiet desperation of discrimination. Through genealogical research, I discover Native American slaves, Slovak immigrants and free African Americans with rich and impactful stories, unrecorded in traditional history books. Ultimately, I feel compelled to visually convey the narrative of each ancestor.
Before an idea can be executed, it is extremely important to be acquainted with the cultural background of the subject. Only then can an honest portrayal of the mood and emotion be displayed in my work. Heavy brushstrokes and texture have always been key elements. Movement in the piece is intended to grab the viewer by the senses and make them a key witness to the narrative. While I am proficient in charcoal, pastel and acrylic, working with mixed media always involves vintage printed materials. I draw or paint the subject over a collage of the materials allowing both to create a dialogue within the piece. In oil, I create a bright and emotionally charged piece in hopes the energy will excite and create a bridge into a world comfortably nostalgic, yet complex and foreign all the same....