I had the privilege of showing the culmination of my 2021 painting endeavors at my alma mater, St. Catherine’s, from January 20th - March 3rd, 2022. Below is my artist’s statement for the show.

“Art and animals have been enduring passions of mine since childhood, and in 2021, I felt compelled to pursue art professionally. I spent this past year reacquainting myself with painting by exploring different mediums and styles in an attempt to discover my authentic artistic expression. I haven’t necessarily pinpointed that expression yet, but I have noticed themes in my work that can be traced back to work I created as a St. Catherine’s student.

I recently rediscovered my photographs from a St. Catherine’s trip to Tanzania when I was in tenth grade. While the vast majority of those photos are out of focus with crooked horizon lines, I can see the very early stages of my preferred compositions emerge. I love composing tightly cropped portraits that feel like I’ve interrupted the subject’s movement and captured them in deep thought. I try to capture the essence or personality of the animal, particularly through careful attention to its eyes. I feel a deep emotional connection to animals when I can see clearly into their eyes, as if we are tethered together for a moment in a shared experience. It’s almost meditative, being in the moment not wanting to break eye contact. My goal is to translate those experiences for my audience through painting, in which I can play with texture and color to amplify that connection. To bring levity to the experience of connecting with animals, I also like to (sometimes) zoom out to capture animals interacting with one another, focusing on movement and their connection within the composition instead of with the viewer.

**Elephant Portrait, 2003**

*digital scan of the original 35mm slide
Photographed on a **Minolta SR-T 101, 35mm manual focus SLR Camera**

Watercolor and oil are my preferred mediums for realistic portraits. I’ve been using acrylic as a personal challenge to work more loosely and focus on movement and texture instead of fine details.

Painting depicting a white and brown German Short Haired Pointer jumping in the air trying to catch a pheasant that is flying above just out of reach of the dog. The setting is in a field with tall grass against a bright blue sky. — **Fowl Play, 2022**

Acrylic on Canvas, 9” x 12”

I am honored to have the opportunity to share my work with the St. Catherine’s community, a place where I have always felt supported to explore various artistic endeavors.”

Shop pieces from the show here

Creatures Great and Small - My first solo art show!

Career aspirations, a beloved dog, and a portrait 6 years in the making