<Process & Sketch>

 The artwork that I diligently plan and create is largely influenced by the close relationships I formed in my adolescence, my emotional struggles, and where I was raised in southern Indiana. Close relationships and emotional struggles appear within my artwork showcasing events that affected me both positively and negatively throughout my life. My background also appears in my work as I frequently reference things around me that are unique to my location, such as Big Gulp cups which are still legal in Indiana but banned in other states. The Falls of the Ohio State Park, which is a short drive from my family home, is an inspiration for me as a person and artist. Seeing the amount of trash washed up on the Ohio River shore in Jeffersonville and New Albany inspired my journey of tackling environmental issues in my artwork and daily life. I strive for a more sustainable lifestyle and engage in the practice of using eco-friendly art supplies and found materials within my work. 

My concerns are transformed and communicated when I add fantastical elements that I attribute to my love of storytelling. I create artwork with a wide variety of materials that I have come to enjoy through experimentation with media such as charcoal, a variety of paints, inks, printmaking processes, sewing, pastels, graphite pencils, and many other materials. I keep sustainability and reusability in mind, as well as the subject  matter, when selecting the materials I use within my work. My art is largely inspired by pop culture or world events around me. My physical works tend to be medium to small format due to the maximalist nature of my work as I tend to fill the page. I also create digital paintings that can be resized and printed in a variety of sizes.