ABOUT

Process and Influences

I make art in order to tell stories. Though my illustrations cover many themes, I am most often drawn to wartime narratives. As I come from a military family, my understanding of the world had been shaped by stories of war; whether they came from family members, movies, books, or memorials. As I've matured, I've come to question the way these different sources are rhetorically constructed: who is represented in dominant stories about the military, and who is left out? By investigating themes of radicalization, combat, and reconciliation on an international scope through my artwork, I attempt to answer these questions.

I primarily work with digital tools like Photoshop and Clipstudio Paint to create my illustrations. However, I also like to incorporate watercolor and pastel elements into my digital pieces to lend them a textural element unique to physical artworks. In terms of artistic process, I always start with a small thumbnail in my sketchbook, which I then refine on my computer. The bulk of my process is concerned with experimentation; I work through different color combinations, shapes, and details until all of the elements of the composition serve the narrative of the piece most convincingly. I'm usually surprised by what my pieces look like after finishing them.

I often come back to the work of artists like Andrey Remnev, Nan Goldin, and Travis Shilling. Their pieces to command an energy and immediacy from viewers which I try to replicate in my own paintings. They draw on different artistic traditions and inspire me to look both to art history and the world around me while creating.

I'm currently studying Studio Art, English, and German at the University of Maryland College Park. Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about me!