I often compose unexpected perspectives with the goal of drawing the viewer into a scene, whether that destination is up in the sky for a bird’s eye view or inside an impossibly small crack of a coastal rock. As a lifelong amateur photographer, I’m drawn to strong compositions far more than I am to particular subjects - rusty boat junk piled just so catches my eye as much as a dramatic sunset.

I started dabbling in paints using acrylics and they are still my preferred medium. The short dry time forces me to think fast and allows me to build layers quickly. Sometimes I really get in the zone and need to work on multiple canvases at once so drying paint doesn’t slow me down. However, oil paints are growing on me - slowly, just like oil paint dries. 

As I continue to explore both mediums, my focus is on painting looser and more abstractly to better portray movement and the surrounding environment in my work. I prefer to paint alla prima (a phrase I learned this year) but still have a habit of overworking pieces. Because my experience is limited, and I love to procrastinate, calling a piece of work done has more often been due to time restrictions rather than a feeling of completion. My meticulous nature will likely always work against me in this way, and I’m working on trading my desire for perfection for the freedom to play more with my works.

Since 2025, I have produced more finished pieces, in my first formal class and at home, than all the rest of my life combined. I could easily dwell on the years I missed out on gaining skills and refining my personal style. Instead I’m starting where I am, focusing on my immediate future and my ability to soak up knowledge and hands-on experience every chance I get.