My work explores the potency of the mind when it engages with nature. The natural world functions as a launch point for liberating the mind from restrictions imposed by everyday life. In addition to being of limitless visual inspiration, nature provides an essential and symbolic role throughout my work. Images of reverie such as tidal waters, deep forests and ephemeral clouds are prominently featured — the cusp of infinite space and contemplation. The sublime landscapes embody the transcendent psyche.
The images are rendered with thin layers of oil paint applied onto sanded aluminum. The metal is left exposed to produce a unifying luminescence that can either permeate each painting, or, if viewed at precise angles, obliterate the image. This fluctuating luster mimics the subtle movements of light experienced in nature. The paintings are often monochromatic and minimal because they are not representative of a literal world; rather, the work represents reflections of the subconscious mind.
I find inspiration and collect source material by traveling extensively to immerse myself in different environments. I paint onsite or take digital photos to cultivate a library of images. I seek out remote areas that are generally sparse and uninhabited, and therefore ideal for contemplative transcendence.