My paintings are informed by my background in graphic design and collage. I use the juxtaposition of found images and words to create new dialogues between those elements and to challenge the viewer to rethink their meaning. I usually build the structure of the painting through the use of computer software, playing with images, colors and composition until something resonates. Often the painting changes as it makes the transition from digital space to actual space and the piece is then transformed.
I am inspired by materials that have a built-in history and character, that unabashedly reveal the effects of nature and time - peeling paint, rusting metal, stained paper and fading photographs. The domestic origin of many of these materials is also referenced in my use of the decidedly humble and simple, almost anti-art, house paint and wood, as opposed to oil paint and canvas. Texture is created by sanding and scraping through applications of paint to create an aged look, thus connecting the painting with its source materials. On top of these backgrounds, I paint the imagery by hand to create the illusion of printed material, exposing my graphic design roots and love of illustration and pop culture.