A glimpse into where I am at the moment. Exploring mental health + the uncomfortableness of life.
4/33/25
a note about the work.
Over the course of twelve weeks I painted this body of work — Three months, 22 paintings. Originally two years ago when I started planning for this show, I thought it would be a deeper dive into my abstract landscapes. From there, life happened and it ended up taking numerous turns and stops at other ideas, eventually landing where I didn’t expect. Yet I’ve learned as an artist that you don’t always get to choose what is ready to be made. Sometimes your creative mind has a different plan, one that you aren’t entirely sure about.
I wrote “paint the discomfort” on a piece of paper and hung it in my studio. It became the north star of my creative process. I would look at it often. I was uncomfortable the majority of the time creating this body of work. Something that didn’t feel great during the process yet now looking back feels like a gift. Being an artist is scary and hard. You pour your soul out and expose it for people to have opinions on. It’s one thing when you are in your comfort zone of your known style and it’s a whole other thing when you’re trying something new and pushing your current limits. You have to be really brave.
This feels like the most vulnerable I’ve ever been. The most honest. The most me. I’m not hiding behind anything. It’s raw, exposed, imperfect and a little unfinished.
When I started painting I had no plan, as much as I wanted there to be one. This work was created on pure instinct and trust. I had to let go of control many times. I detached from an outcome, working purely in a ‘trust the process’ state of mind. I wasn’t allowed to have an opinion on what I was creating. For me, it’s more about the process of making art than the finished piece.
What you will see is a fresh take on my known techniques, this time explored in an entirely new way. I’ve left my corrective marks exposed. I’ve introduced outlined squares. I’ve become obsessed with contrasting painted canvas edges. I’ve taken my abstracts to the simple extreme. I’ve played with exposed canvas as a new found material. I’ve created marks I never have before and changed the orientation of canvases as I’m working to find better compositions. You’ll find many new and exciting elements.
There is also an overall sense of airiness and a looser quality compared to my previous abstract work. It’s not as busy and overworked. That is intentional. It mimics the life choices I’ve made for a simpler, slower and more intentional lifestyle. It comes from a place of wanting less noise and valuing the simple things. It’s about choosing less and only focusing on what truly matters.
I feel it important to mention the “windows.” Either blank canvas or a deeper painted layer, these “windows” offer a view underneath. They show the various layers of my deep emotions and healing. They expose me. They keep me honest. The “windows” of untouched canvas match my vulnerability. I don’t cover up or hide behind anything — I let my raw unfinished self come forward. The “windows” revealing deeper painted layers show the older versions of me that still peek through, the ones that make me who I am.
My process and inspiration comes from my lived experiences. The last few years have
had great impact. Painting is how I process and document my life. Here is a glimpse
into where I am at the moment.
