Artists that I am drawn to are considered outsider artists (e.g., Henry Darger, John Wesley) in that they never had formal art training to produce their works. Upon reading a few outsider artists biographies, I was inspired by the clarity of vision, the unending productiveness, and unavoidable drive to produce a comprehensive body of work. 

As for medium, my favorite materials are wood and acrylic paints. Much of my creative inspiration comes from a desire to live in an orderly world where everything is in its place and accounted for. I remember around third grade when my father taught me how to engrave my name using a wood burning tool. I was struck by how permanent my name felt in the wood. That was the first time I realized I was drawn to art for its ability to project stability. 

One of my main artistic interests is creating portraits. Much of my inspiration for portraits is sourced from family and friends. This enables my portraits to project a unique individuality while containing a surreal familiarity. Recently, being inspired by the Pennsylvania Dutch art tradition, I have started placing portraits inside of barn star patterns providing them with intricate geometric frames. 

Otherwise, I am interested in recreating objects that have an underlying cultural resonance. Many of the objects I choose have connections back to primitive and early modern American society. By carefully choosing which objects to recreate, I hope to invoke both the sacredness and utility we feel when using them in our everyday lives.

Each art piece is handmade with meticulous attention to detail and loving care. My desire is that other artists and creatives will find these pieces as mysterious, fascinating, and calming as I do.