Artist's Statement

“Repair is the dream of the broken thing…all my favorite singers couldn’t sing.”

-David Berman

Drawing from experiences growing up in Appalachia, paintings and sculptures are reflections of the world as I understand it. Recent work is a reflection of isolation, both self-imposed and government mandated. 

Duality—not necessarily good vs. evil—is a major component of my work.

Smooth vs. rough, soft vs. hard;
Serious or absurd, meaning is derived from juxtaposition. 

The work may condemn the hypocrisy of the church 

or highlight the eroticism of CPR.
 

Dreams are a constant source of inspiration; I don’t mean dreams as in aspirations, but dreams as in anxiety-inducing nightmares or the visit of a once-familiar loved one bringing an unexpected smile. Or maybe it’s those dreams that don’t seem to make any sense at all, like Napoleonic infant pirates brandishing swords. 

There is little value to be found in perfect reproduction.

If the goal is to be mastery, I would rather master the 

understanding of thoughts and feelings

than try to take the place of a camera.