why I paint
When I was 16, I developed a crippling fear about the meaning of life. It was so bad at one point that I would leave the dinner table to lie on the floor in terror. I would walk around wondering how people made living look so easy when I could only wonder what it all meant. My life has been this mixture of existentialism, absurdist humor, and an edge of spiritualism I could never place. It was nurtured even more by the isolation from being an only child. That isolation took my talent for drawing to another level - along with the boredom of living in Arizona that forges you to either have a large imagination or eventually become a day drinker or golfer. (or usually both)
Making art was always my way to express what my words fall short of describing - the “Great Mystery”. It’s at the core of my work and is a theme that will follow me all my life. I aim to merge elements of everyday life with this enigmatic feeling that is always with us, often concealed by endless layers of distraction.
To the Great Mystery.
ARTIST STATEMENT
In my work, I delve into the symbolic and the surreal, drawing inspiration from the mysteries of the subconscious and the misunderstood elements of life. My paintings often transform familiar Southwestern landscapes into scenes of mystery where surreal elements hover and invite viewers to explore deeper layers of meaning. I strive to create imagery that explores these themes while also inviting appreciation on a purely aesthetic level. I primarily work with oil paints for their ability to create rich, blended scenes that add complexity and allow me to fully capture the dreamlike quality in my paintings.
Exhibitions
2025
Walter Where?House – Affirmations Group Show | Phoenix, AZ
Eye Lounge – All Eyes On You III Group Show | Phoenix, AZ