ARTIST STATEMENT
Interest in conflict, beauty in balance- my work focuses on contrasts and exploring the relationships of opposites. This work is an expression of my interactions and observations of others in my environment.
Candid "people watching" moments inspire the images of my work. People unknowingly express emotion through subtle body language, giving a private glimpse into that person as he/she interacts with others or their environment. Catching that glimpse makes me feel connected to that person and the world around me. This connection is the inspiration behind my image choices.
My interest in contrast and studying emotional body language began when I worked as a counselor for male juvenile sex offenders. As they were a danger to themselves and others, my job was to provide constant supervision and observation of the boys and their behavior. During the day their tough guy facades were prominent, and at night their restless sleep was interrupted by cries for their
abusive families. The contrast of their emotions from day to night was extreme, as light to darkness. The more I studied their behavior, the more I noticed that they and others unconsciously communicate through body language, despite what they chose to present outwardly.
While the emotional connections initially attract me to an image, the interaction of the shapes within and around the figure is no less significant. I abstract the figurative forms, rendering them as geological formations. The figure is initially hid as a landscape form. This allows the viewer to first see the sinuous lines, organic shapes, and energy of the focal area in contrast with surrounding nothingness. The contrast of how positive and negative shapes interact conveys an emotion as opposites are finding a balance. My hope is the viewer feels a connection, as I originally did, when the figure in the image is discovered.