Painting allows me to honor everyday experiences such as waking up, floating down a river, or returning home on a cold night. I begin by writing a poem or list of images I associate with the experience I’ll paint. I use the images, textures, and colors from my writing to create paintings whose subjects are the sensation of an experience rather than a figurative depiction of it.

Meditating on mundane sensations is an important way for me to practice mindfulness and remain receptive to the sublime beauty of the world. While daily life often leaves me feeling anxious and overwhelmed, slowing down to focus on physical sensations is a respite and a connection to the world outside of my own head. My paintings encourage me to find awe in the everyday and share this wonder with viewers.

I’m a painter born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA, and currently working in Seattle, WA. I’m fascinated by a painting’s ability to open windows into created realities and different ways of looking at the world. I think of my own work as windows into my mind: a way of processing and expressing what’s important to me. Painting is a way to check in with myself and iterate what is beautiful about being alive.