My art is my perception of the realities existing around me. A viewer’s perception of my art would make it a reality existing around them. A vicious cycle. Creative expression has been, since a very early age, the most naturally flowing form for me. When I was a child, I would watch my dad sit and draw with wonder. I would find a piece of paper and pencil, trying eagerly to draw exactly what he had done. At first, I thought that art was simply copying things line for line. It wasn’t until later in life, affected by so many positive and negative life experiences, that I’ve discovered a blank surface can be whatever you make it. No rules. Without formal training, aside from elective courses in high school art, I think self taught artists, such as myself, have a more organic style. It’s more pure, in a way. It comes from viewing the world around you, then interpreting it into a way that is your own.
I draw inspiration from several sources: magazine ads, many different genres of music, rain, the sky, the sun and other natural occurrences in nature, fashion trends, and many other things, as there is so much to see in this place.
I believe beauty exists all around us; we get so focused on the day to day that we forget to stop and see it sometimes. Many of my paintings have to do with raw and even surreal beauty. I experiment with drips and splatters of paint to contrast the more realistic look of my subjects. This gives the paint, itself, a chance to take shape and lend attributes to each piece that cannot be completely controlled by myself or any artist.
I’m still fairly new to photography, but it’s fast becoming an addiction! I often try to express ideas that I think might look good in a painting. My camera allows me to capture an idea floating around in my head much quicker than trying to paint it. I’ve also been experimenting with mixed media in photography, lately, blending collage and various texture elements with the smooth feel of a photo.
Everything I create comes straight from my heart. It is a culmination of all the light and sorrows that envelop me as a human being. I strive to affect people with the somewhat dark and often startling images I present. We live in a harsh world, and that’s a simple truth, but the ability to appreciate the underlying beauty and light that exists even when we think there’s none left…that’s what makes art and self expression so important to who we are.
