Artist Statement
As someone who has always been quiet, yet very passionate and inspired, art is and has been my main outlet for self-expression. With my work, I communicate my love and appreciation for retro themes and objects. Growing up, I was surrounded by the influence of styles, themes, and objects of the past, particularly from the 1950s through the 1980s. These eras are of my parents’ generation. I grew up watching the TV shows and listening to the music that they grew up with. I began collecting vintage items and incorporating them into my life and my art. I collect vintage technology, vinyl records, decor, and clothing and accessories, which often appear in my pieces. I am also drawn to classic architecture and places which are icons of these eras, such as diners, drive-ins, and movie theaters with marquees. These subjects become the focus of my larger-scale works.
Drawing is both one of my favorite activities and one of my biggest strengths. My professional pieces, however, are primarily acrylic paintings. I prefer acrylic to any other medium for my work, because with acrylics, I can still achieve the crisp, clean, detailed quality that I get with drawing. Acrylics also allow me to attain bold colors, which enhance the liveliness, mood, and settings of my work. I build up details, lighting, and shadows by working in layers, which also makes acrylics the best fit for me.
My current series includes still lifes, comprised of vintage items from my collection, and interiors and exteriors of local retro diners. Still lifes allow me to set the scene in a visually appealing way that represents a specific decade, recreating how objects could be found in settings of that era. My setups combine recognizable objects with quirkier objects to celebrate the classic, and shine a light on the unique elements of the bygone eras. Listen and Smile with Classic Style features a classic vintage radio, a 1950s flashbulb camera, and a uniquely-shaped vase. Fluid Movement and Funky Sounds show an iconic lava lamp, with two space-age novelty radios from the 1970s, in moody lighting. My interior and exterior paintings of diners are depictions of actual places that were built in a specific decade, or were modeled to look that way. Diner Reflections depicts a 1950s-style diner, highlighting its classic features and reflective qualities. The entire metal facade of the building, as well as the windows and doors, is adorned with bold reflections of the surrounding environment. Reflective surfaces are another element that occurs frequently in my series. My still life, Reflection of a Timeless Treat, stars a 1960s chrome coffee percolator, which the surface of is completely covered in reflections of light, color, and objects. Retro themes are familiar to me, historic, an escape from modern times, becoming rarer, and are as unique as I am. Through my work, I strive to paint authentic and true representations of all of my vintage subjects, just as I see them, and also as I would like to inspire others to see and appreciate them.