Artist's Statement
In my work, I select iconographic images based on their simplicity of color, form, quality of line, and anything I feel will lend itself to strong brushwork and a simplified application of paint. These surreal scenes question the rise and fall of civilizations, the reality of extinction, the concept of time, and the absurdity of existence. The historical reference of my subject matter becomes secondary. I do not choose the image for what it typically represents, but for how it can be represented through paint while set in an unexpected context. A subject?s meaning is revealed throughout the process as I create my own interpretation.
The mummy, for example, may be interpreted as a comment on our society and culture as a whole. Originally it was chosen for its capacity to be reduced to a primitive compilation of tone and brushwork, however it soon became apparent that the anonymity of the mummy relates to the individual viewer simultaneously creating a broad association with humanity.
Ultimately, the images become symbols that create a visual language challenging the viewer to draw their own conclusions. The ability to create a specific, recognizable image using undefined edges and abstract mark making allows for the paint itself to rival the suggestion of realistic imagery.