Observations, stories, and reflections from the studio and beyond.
I’ve spent much of my life observing cities. Small cities. Large cities. Ghost towns. Coastal cities. Industrial cities. All types of cities. Sometimes to paint. Sometimes, to get a vibe. Some for a few hours. Some for years. I often zoom all the way out. A bird’s-eye view. What’s the attraction? What makes a city…
Not the promise that everyone should arrive at the same destination. But the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to begin their journey. Years ago, I created a piece about equality. At the time, the idea felt simple. Not easy. Simple. To me, regardless of race or gender, equality means every person has the same…
I painted a phrase that has stayed with me longer than I expected. To Know Yourself Is Freedom. To Change Yourself Is Mastery. You have to get very comfortable with yourself to understand the first half. To know yourself. Sounds simple enough. Remove the excuses. Understand your strengths. Understand your vulnerabilities. Understand what excites you….
People often ask why I paint strawberries. To be clear, I didn’t set out to. But I do know where it started. Years ago, I was painting Strawberry Shortcake, the cartoon character. I began pairing the image with messages. Cartoons provide moral lessons for children. When you become an adult, you still need reminders, so…
When I was in second grade, I wanted to be President of the United States. Not because I wanted to be famous. But because I wanted world peace. The logic seemed simple. If the President was one of the most powerful people in the world, surely that would be the fastest way to create meaningful…
Years ago, a series of symbols came to me through meditation, one each day for five days. I had a hard time remembering them, so I tattooed them on the inside of my forearm. At the time, I thought I was writing down answers. Not answers to a specific question. Answers to a recurring test,…
As an artist, I’ve experienced the world a bit differently. Some people see sounds, hear colors, or taste words. I’ve always been fascinated by how one sensation can trigger another. How a place can feel like a color. When a painting evokes a memory. Where a fragrance can make you feel safe. Or a song…
Somewhere along the way, I realized I was tied to two worlds that aren’t supposed to belong together. One involved climbing up my telescopic ladder to a rooftop in the middle of the night with a backpack full of paint. The other involved white tablecloths, carefully folded napkins, and multi-course meals. One is loud. The…
