I represent spirit with the application of vertical line, and the horizontal line representing matter. By spirit, I mean the energy, emotion, and contemplation triggered by matter. By matter, I mean the tangible elements that we are surround by, embody, and use. In my paintings, I think of paint as an ingredient to express the qualities of natures spirit. It can be applied densely or be thinned to the point of becoming ephemeral. Matter is the collage paper that is tangible and that grounds the composition. My commitment to this minimal technique has directed me through a trans-formative process that has brought me to my current approach.
My stream of consciousness directs my application of the materials onto canvas or board. By responding to the interaction between the different mediums, I am intentionally susceptible to changes of direction within the construction of my compositions. I approach each as a mental digestion of spirit and matter combinations I observe and absorb in the natural world.

*This body of work was created over the course of my undergraduate painting career into the 6 months post BFA transition into #reallife working career. 2014-2016.

 During my BFA education, I was introduced to the early work of painter Piet Mondrian, and studied his famous establishment of the De Stijl movement. I mimicked his conceptual approach by merging my subject matters emotional presence and physical space in a process that embodied their essence. This cannot be referenced from a picture, so tolerant models were a necessity, as well as my personal relation to said subject matter. However, the struggle I faced with this practice was finding subject matter I was compelled to have this painting conversation with. Through the mentorship of Dr. Halide Salam [https://halidesalam.com/] and greatly referencing my experiences working 7 summers as a camp counselor, I concluded I cannot confine "mountain top moments" to a representational scene or being. I wanted to break down the process of a bigger presence than just myself or a subject matter. This began my exploration of pure abstraction.