I have always enjoyed depicting animals in my work as I gravitate towards their vastly varying forms, from wrinkles etched into the trunk of an elephant to the graceful tail of a whale. In my awe of these creatures, I have also become interested in the conservation of the environment in which they live. As we progress as a society, it is important to remember how our actions impact our surroundings, which can subsequently harm the wildlife in these places. By adding details of pollution and extinction into my work, I address how our carelessness to our surroundings affects nature. In much of my work, I make the animal the central focus but placing it centrally in the foreground. I want the viewer to first notice the beauty and intricacy of the creature, and then upon closer observation, notice the evidence of human intervention which pollutes the scene. I hope that through viewing my work, others will connect visually to how pollution spoils the scene and be motivated to support the conservation of our environment.
In my earlier work, I worked with conte crayons, because I had more control to create finer line work and the finish has a unified, earthy tone. Recently, though, I have enjoyed using paint to depict these animals because of the vibrant colors I can use and manipulate to match the deep blue of a whale or the bright orange of a seahorse. Also, my works have progressively utilized different mediums with paint to get a variety of textures, which adds another layer of interest and depth. Currently, I am expanding the study of my content through creating larger scale paintings with mixed media elements, so that I can better show the immensity of these creatures. While this journey began by simply drawing pictures of animals, it has expanded to address the critical issue of pollution. From a whale covered with plastic wrap to an octopus clutching an oil can, I hope that my current work shows how pollution from flippantly discarded trash to oil spills negatively impact the environment.
In my earlier work, I worked with conte crayons, because I had more control to create finer line work and the finish has a unified, earthy tone. Recently, though, I have enjoyed using paint to depict these animals because of the vibrant colors I can use and manipulate to match the deep blue of a whale or the bright orange of a seahorse. Also, my works have progressively utilized different mediums with paint to get a variety of textures, which adds another layer of interest and depth. Currently, I am expanding the study of my content through creating larger scale paintings with mixed media elements, so that I can better show the immensity of these creatures. While this journey began by simply drawing pictures of animals, it has expanded to address the critical issue of pollution. From a whale covered with plastic wrap to an octopus clutching an oil can, I hope that my current work shows how pollution from flippantly discarded trash to oil spills negatively impact the environment.