ABOUT
I am a fine artist and painter working primarily in acrylic and oil, though I often explore other media to expand my visual language. My work reflects a deep attention to observation, process, and the quiet presence of everyday subjects—often drawn from nature, still life, and the environments around me. In addition to my artistic practice, I’ve spent many years working in the field of English language education, teaching abroad and supporting immigrant and multilingual communities in the United States. My experiences with language, culture, and cross-cultural connection have shaped how I see the world, and that perspective often informs my approach to painting. For me, creating art is a way to slow down, notice details, and cultivate reflection and connection across boundaries.
Artist Statement
My work has always been rooted in nature. For many years, I focused on abstraction—creating large, textured oil and mixed-media paintings on wood panels that evoked natural environments without depicting them literally. The surfaces suggested the presence of water, rocks, moss, and other organic forms, but remained intentionally unrecognizable, inviting the viewer to engage with their textures and atmospheres on a more intuitive level.
As the years progressed, my work has become more representational, though it continues to reflect a deep, focused observation of natural objects. These subjects—whether plants, stones, or organic matter—possess an inherent abstraction in their textures, forms, patterns, colors, and intricate details. This duality allows me to explore the boundary between realism and abstraction, revealing the complexity and beauty within the natural world.
Over the years, I’ve also come to see my art as a practice in both release and discipline. The process of creating has helped me let go, take risks, and play—but it has also taught me patience. Through deep observation, I’ve learned to notice details I might have otherwise overlooked. This attentiveness has not only deepened my connection to the natural world but has also sparked a continual desire to learn more—to understand the forms, systems, and stories behind what I see.
What I’ve learned through observing and painting has extended beyond the studio and into the way I live. It has taught me to slow down, to be present, and to listen more closely—to nature, to others, and to myself.
EDUCATION
1998-2001 BFA, Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
1996-1998 University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA