Artist Statement
My work depicts my person in multiplicity with different selves representing alter egos as dramatis personae. The use of my likeness is both implicit and symbolic in the portrayal of my narrative; the internal drama involved in creating art and the role of the artist in society. I use realism to invite the viewer into mysterious interior worlds that are layered reflections of the outer. Dehumanizing environments are imbued with literary and art historical references as a critique of societal power structures. I depict the artist as an Everyman who is at odds with society and his self. Visually my work is a celebration of society's dark undercurrents and its overlooked absurdities. Charcoal then is my medium of choice as its tenebrous values add a fitting metaphor to my narrative. The dark shadows and tonal nuances seduce viewers into a world their better judgment would have them avoid. This provokes a sense of disquietude that causes viewers to assess our world through the austerity of a colorless, yet not humorless, light.? Though my work includes self-portraiture, the depiction of my likeness is sublimated to the narrative. I wish for the viewers to realize the artist is the figure in the work but do not consider my work self-portraiture per se. My figure is the thread that weaves the story together. I see my person as a plastic vehicle whose rigorous portrayal allows for unrestrained expression. I revel in this sense of artistic freedom. It has granted me power and poignancy in relating my beliefs and experiences to others.
