Biography - Artist Statement

My work focuses on the realms of fantasy, magic, and make-believe; it is a form of escapism from the real world. The fantasy world that I created allows me to be able to tackle difficult emotions, address trauma, and reconcile thoughts in my mind. Being able to tell stories has been constant in my pursuit to make art, translating make-believe into real life is being able to offer the audience a ticket into the land of fairytales, dungeons and dragons, and imagination.
My subject matter relates back to my core interests; fiction, whimsy, a bit of horror and emotional challenges depicted through the trials and tribulations of my character creations. For me, these characters are a way to process trauma, explore new identities as well as find an escape from the weight of the world. I push myself with designing elements to learn new techniques and artistic representations that I have found to be lacking or not present in my work. From creating maps, building and landscapes to character designing, I challenge myself to improve in the areas I see myself lacking. Allowing ways to process trauma in a fantasy setting where I get to direct the narrative was something I needed in my life. Giving a distraction from the hard reality of everyday life and losing myself within the world and characters I make grants a freedom I used to miss within the constructs and confinement of life. I welcome friends to come into this world with me and characters of their own. As this fantasy world has expanded and grown, it has become more than just thoughts in my mind. As friends became involved through their contributions to ideas of character development, my work grew from thoughts to writing to art. It became a realm of more possibilities than I thought.
Using illustration to translate the story from writing to something tangible, I have bridged the gap between the world in my mind and reality. Paintings and drawings create a representation of the beings that previously only existed in my head. Sculptural forms and objects further emphasize that the magic and mystique of make-believe could exist and become something for everyone to witness and ponder. I want to bring stories to life, to bring creations only seen in the mind’s eye to something you could hold in your hand, whether it is a drawing, painting or 3D form.