ARTIST STATEMENT

The allure of watercolor is strong. Painting with these pigments is an
enchanting give-and-take process. The paint will sometimes take charge,
and other times my hand maneuvering the brush will take the lead. I work
with this spontaneity and concentration concurrently in watercolors to
convey the feminine experience. I adore the female figure, and get lost in a
journey discovering her form each time I pick up my paintbrushes and
palette. I incorporate elements from my own physical and mental experience
into her presentation, unveiling character and fascinations onto paper.

My most recent body of work explores visual inspirations I witnessed during a 2-month solo trip I took through India. The experience was life and art-altering. When I came home, I found myself integrating the vibrant visual enticements of India into the female figures and portraits I have always loved to paint. In India, intricate and beautiful designs are everywhere: on buildings
and architecture, within museums, and even painted upon women’s skin. Particularly enthralling to me visually was the South Indian dance of
kathakali – a beautiful expressive dance that features language in the form
of eye movements, hand mudras, steps and exquisite and colorful makeup.
I found the dance to be so moving, I urgently felt the need to breathe the
emotion I felt from kathakali into my own work. I use expressive lines
painted upon the face and body to convey powerful inner emotions and
thoughts inspired by India.