BFA Senior Show

Artist Statement

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I was surrounded by trees and mountains. Their presence gave me protection. Moving to the south and spending my summers in the panhandle, often I have felt vulnerable and unsettled by the desolation and flatness of the terrain. Converging the essence of both environments explores the need for adaptation as conditions continue to evolve. These paintings come from a place of uncertainty and the weight of an undetermined future that looms heavily during early adulthood. Through abstract landscape, I am exploring the interactions that one has with their environment and the feeling that comes from trying to find the right path. The shifts in space and ambiguous marks emphasize a sense of movement, while the decisive forms provide the viewer a foundation to exist in. Meanwhile, the ideas of majesty and mystery that come along with nature and life are emphasized in the use of color and diffused lighting.  ​

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Each piece begins with a layer of acrylic paint in experimental gestures. Seeking out structures that remind me of the landscapes I am familiar with, I hunt to mitigate the voids in between. Adding layers of oil paint, I find interest in the complexity of surface texture and compounding the color to define forms.  The process is much like the topic of the work. It is an evolution, an exploration, and a journey.  ​

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