Laguna College of Art + Design

For me, the act of painting is an act of being in the moment. I use it as a tool to stay in touch with the world around me and with my personal history. My thesis project, A Series of Literal Paintings, is a collection of observations that I have co…

As an oil painter who came to art later in her life, I have a clear intention for the subjects that I paint and express the wisdom I have gathered in my life. My artworks thus reflect who I am, where I am from, and where I have traveled. Having been…

To an artist, the meaning of “still life” in the English language and “nature morte” in the French language refers to the same type of subject matter. There is a subtle difference though; the definition of still life refers t…

My large-scale drawings investigate the beauty of femininity and inner strength through intricate designs that incorporate elements from nature. I depict female figures immersed in biophilic relationships, highlighting a harmonious bond between wome…

This work was included in the Society of Illustrators West 63rd Exhibition.

I look for transient moments where light takes shape, creates lines, or illuminates color as it reflects off a surface. When I paint people under these conditions, I find that abstract qualities of visual perception are a compelling vehicle for empa…

Inquiry breeds creation. As a painter, I tend to ask too many questions for my own good –this is how I develop concepts for my paintings. I question what the norm might be, and I question the rules of picture-making while also questioning my o…

I create compositions that feature the solitary, contemplative male figure, both at rest and in action. I use athletics to explore the male body in an endearing way that edges up to a subtle homoeroticism. Learning Olympic-style diving has inspired …

At 8 years old, I was severely injured in a very serious car accident which resulted in a coma for a week. This was an event that changed a lot of people's lives within my family. The scene was so horrific, it was only told with metaphors to lighten…

Age of Innocence celebrates a special time of life. In my oil paintings, I explore the quiet moments in childhood. As a child, I remember the freedom I felt—the freedom to play and dream. Children have an incredible ability to forgive complete…

My thesis work Everything is Hours is a seven-by-seven-foot oil panting on canvas that explores our shared yet unconscious connections to this world and its elements. In this square made up of three canvases, I depict how cycles of time, the seasons…

Half an Optimist, Half a Pessimist explores the idea of life as a resource of both positive and negative moods. As an artist, I use oil painting to tell stories about how I face life. In half of my paintings, I was an optimist. I created an ideal wo…

My paintings are a roadmap to the different ways I have found healing within my life. Finding connections to external stimuli, such as the sun, gave me the strength to go inwards. While examining my own inner workings, I became ready to extend mysel…

Growing up in the Mormon religion, I had the unusual experience of being taught about a female deity. While many Mormon women find the idea of a female deity empowering, some are disturbed that she is nearly invisible within Mormon religious discour…

In the basin of a hidden valley, a skewed rock pile breaks the silhouette of distant blue mountains. The already-fallen sun leaves a green sky in its wake. Without the heat of day to hold it back, a brisk chill quickly rises from the sandy ground. T…

My work expresses my studies of the human form as well as my experiences with acting. As an actor, I looked closely at human behavior, giving me insights into our shared human experience and giving me the tools to express my own experiences through …

In the Light is a painted observation of our disconnection with the natural environment and how my own reconnection with nature has helped me sort out life’s most difficult questions and challenges. In developing a visual language to express t…

Finding beauty in ordinary objects excites me. In each still life, I use ordinary vessels as my subject matter. I paint them in oil in a classical and traditional style. I use ceramic vessels in Oriental and simple design because they helps to creat…

I Remember. I Remember – the scent on my mother carries love and comfort. Even though she is not physically with me, her blessing and love stay with me in my memories. Losing my mother is the trigger for me to paint my memories. I experienced …