My work focuses primarily on femininity and the story of women. I look specifically at the way women are presented in a spiritual context and use those stories to inspire my paintings. Not all of my works focus on a particular individual. However, those that do are meant to be a new, empowering portrayal of how I see the women. Eve, in particular, is a very personal portrait because I specifically used myself as the reference. Depicting myself as Eve is important to express my identity as a woman, acknowledging the origin story of sin, and choosing to celebrate women instead of placing blame or typecasting women as temptresses and the route of all evil. I look deeply into my own experiences as a woman and the experiences of those around me, attempting to portray femininity in my works boldly and with power. The women I create are grounded in our century yet are lifted towards the status of goddess. Femininity and spirituality can coexist and even create something beautiful; however, some stories and ideas need to be rewritten, and I choose to take on this task from my perspective.

 

Formally, I focus on a realistic application of paint while drawing inspiration from Baroque style color and light. This style adds to the drama and the grandeur I am trying to emulate in my paintings. The way I paint is a source of control in my life; where there is chaos and uncertainty, the illusionistic appearance of my work is what I can have complete control. When I paint, I feel as if I am almost sculpting my figures.