As a “Visual Artist” I like my work to invite a discussion about interior conflict (social disorders, disabilities, Mental Health) My work centers mostly around portraiture with an overall fragmented, and darker atmosphere. Film and especially actors are big inspirations on my work. You can find traces and techniques of cinematography in my drawings like lighting, shadow, and cropping.
The death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman in early 2014 kick started the idea of fan based portraiture. From then on I have influenced his work in film in most every piece of art I make. His open addiction to drugs was well know, but his sudden death was even a surprise to his closest friends. The idea that a person can be so different than what they outwardly portray is the most interesting thing to me. From this idea I started my “Fractured Portrait” series.
Focusing primarily on portraiture, I look mainly toward the works of Chuck Close and his large hyper realism paintings. His work ignited my early college work with centered portraits on black backgrounds.
Currently I’m working on reinventing my portrait making with different standards than previously presented in the art world. I’m asking myself how much of a person is necessary to show in order to get the point across?