While my primary series centers on figurative work, in all of my work, I strive to maintain a sense of expressiveness through the use of saturated colors and confident brushstrokes which are a reminder of the process and the physicality of the material. I am interested in images that evoke a sense of nostalgia or feel like they could be from anyone’s memories. By choosing to work with an aesthetic that reads as sentimental, I hope to create a connection with the viewer that allows them to relate with the image. Many of my paintings are created ‘plein air,’ on location from direct observation, however, I am most interested in capturing the essence of the space rather than conforming strictly to realism. I consciously move towards a simultaneous level of realism and aesthetically satisfying abstraction. Continuously balancing realism and geometric simplification provides a challenge that sustains my engagement in the process of creation.