My artwork ventures along the path of what it means to live in your own era, while also paying homage to the past. Our current time is unique, things seem to be changing daily and it’s hard to keep up. The modern world we live in has provided us with many luxuries and benefits, but has also burdened us with many problems as well.
In my artwork, I search for the most subtle way to express this reality while using classical techniques of the past. The figures and objects I paint are meant to be relatable to the audience, where the viewer can feel a connection while also admiring the technical aspects of the work. Much too often, there is a disconnect between the viewer and a beautifully painted contemporary work because the subject matter looks like it could have been painted a century ago. This is the part of the work that is most vital because without a connection to the viewer, the painting lacks a soul.
My work digs into all that can be viewed as good and bad in our era. My figures wear current, modern clothing, and they are set in recognizable environments. The still life objects are familiar as well and picked specifically, creating a story in the mind of the viewer that can be unique to their own life. I aim to paint what an old master would paint if they were alive today.
Our modern era has witnessed many things: movements have come and gone, the rise of technology, much political divide. It is important for me to express modern life, with great subtly and care while maintaining a sense of realism and naturalism.