Artist Statement: Painting is a very physical, almost musical, experience for me. Even if I spend days and weeks on piece, I hope to always exemplify the fervor of artistic invention and to glorify playful experimentation. Truthfully, the physical application of paint and the physical act of digging into wet paint with a palette knife or even a paintbrush handle excites me. I enjoy portraying powerful women in the common moments of everyday life. I use rich, bold, expressive colors because I believe color incites longing and depicts angst and provokes revelry. I use female models who are also friends of mine. Together with them, through dialogue and discussions on posture and posing I seek to reveal and unfold the natural beauty and unlock feminine boldness through confident vulnerability. As I age and live in a daily work, daily responsibility world as woman, I am struck and compelled by how much a relaxing moment or a chance to unwind at the end of a long stressful day resonates with me, and resonates with people living ordinary lives. Through many conversations and honest relationships, I keep feeling how important the small things are to most women. Being powerful does not necessarily equate to being over others, but power from love comes in being with people and wanting to understand them. I seek to make my art honest to my life and consistent with what moves my own heart and hopefully in the process touches a few others' hearts and helps them feel seen and significant.