My work abstracts the natural world by looking at things up close for the finer details. In drawings and functional ceramics, I describe this macro level using line, shape, color, texture, and pattern working together with the two- or three-dimensional surface. Making these works is my chance to take what I see in nature and create art that speaks to others about the beauty of the world around us.
My background in scuba diving influences a majority of my drawings. Scuba diving has taken me all over the world, giving me the chance to explore the natural world from above and below the water’s surface. Underwater imagery and a feeling of weightlessness are conveyed throughout my art. Looking at different images of coral and coral environment influences the colors I choose to include in my work. Coral grows upon itself just like I want my work to look as if it is growing out from a painting or ceramic vessel. My work layers the imagery of underwater scenes and the repetition of geometric forms. As you look at my work you will see it includes multiples or the representation of repeating patterns that are finely detailed, similar to fractals. Fractals, which are a natural phenomenon are a key source of inspiration for my work . The physical form of the materials I am working with determines the designs that will be applied. When working on a flat surface or a round surface, nothing is determined until I begin the mark making. It is like a puzzle because I want each of my marks to relate to one another and the surface to create movement. I want my viewer to experience the whimsical nature of my process when looking at my finished product. Ceramic is a form of art making that allows me to take images of the ocean that have inspired my drawings and create work that becomes permanent. By translating my drawings into ceramics, viewers have a chance to physically interact with my work through everyday uses. For example, while holding one of my ceramic cups, one can see the drawings traveling across the surface. The lines guide the viewer’s eyes to want to see what is on the other side of the cup. My ceramic pieces allows the beauty of nature within the ocean that are captured in my drawings to be preserved in a permanent form |