Paintings and Images, May 2025

My work is a response to the repetitive pull I feel to look again. I'm fascinated by and in love with what is not entirely knowable. Because of this, I try to know as much as I can. While I have not done formal training through a university, I am deeply influenced by classical figurative art traditions. I continually study through workshops with contemporary artists and a lot of books. I hold a weekly figure drawing group in New Orleans where we continue the tradition of studying from a live model. This offers opportunity to practice anatomy, proportion and how light creates form. The other half the time I'm working is very much the opposite approach- I sit down without a reference or any plan of what will happen and I make marks and then pull images from there. For me going back and forth within this duality- between imagination and observation- is where I find a sort of balance.

I grew up in Virginia, lived briefly in New York City and settled in New Orleans in 2004. Since then I have also shared and sold my work on the streets of the French Quarter, for many years on Pirates Alley and currently in Jackson Square. I am deeply inspired by people watching and watching the waves of humanity pass me by while I am set up. Currently I offer 15 minute portrait studies- this allows me the freedom to draw whatever occurs in the moment and not have to feel forced to produce a 'good product'.  New Orleans is one of the only places I have seen it possible to exist as a working class artist. As long as I can continue doing my work, I am content. I pretty much always want to discuss what it's like to be alive so please come find me one day on Jackson Square!