‍ ‍Artist Statement

Growing up on Long Island, my family would frequent the same beach for as long as I can remember. It became my safe place, somewhere I could escape to, no matter what time of year or what the weather was like. Sitting at the beach watching the waves crash against the shore, smelling the salt in the air, everything else just melted away. The beach stabilizes me, giving me a sense of peace when everything feels like it’s falling apart. As a landscape painter, my goal is not just to showcase the beauty of nature but to evoke an emotional response that stems from what I felt while there. Each painting works through the contrasting emotions I felt before arriving and after sitting there for some time. I focus on converting this through shifts in lighting and perspective. Depending on the landscape and the angle at which the horizon is viewed, it can evoke either unease or a sense of peace in the viewer. For instance, by amplifying the vibrancy of the colors, the painting feels electric and inviting, whereas in an overcast painting, the dark, dull colors give an icy, unapproachable feeling. Shifting the horizon to an unnatural position further pushes the uneasy feeling, contrasting with the peaceful serenity felt while looking out over the ocean.  In addition to painting, I’m heavily involved in the theater department as a lighting designer, giving me a unique way of thinking about light. Learning more about lighting design has significantly influenced the way I think about color and atmosphere in my paintings.  In order to successfully light a production, understanding color theory and the psychology of colors is extremely important. For instance, different shades of blue evoke distinct emotions; a lighter, icy blue feels cold and isolating, while a sky blue feels calm and peaceful. Before starting a painting, I will study the location for hours, then take a multitude of photos to pick from later on to base the piece on. As part of my process, I set up a series of rules to put me in the same headspace that I was in when I took the inspiration photos. One rule is that I have to listen to a specific playlist or song the entire time I’m working on each piece to embody each emotion. Having a set of rules in place allows me to focus on the painting itself rather than on every decision leading up to the first brushstroke and the moment of contact with the emotion. Each decision that is made throughout the process results in a painting that transports the viewer to a memory of the place I call home through different emotions.