Artist Statement

My work often takes on the form of creatures, both factual and fictional. The wildlife we see around us, and the monsters we read about in fantasy. Growing up, I often went to a summer camp at a zoo where I would learn about animals and their importance. My favorite thing there was a glass case, which was full of skulls, furs/skins, horns, and other miscellaneous objects. This sparked my love for animals and their skeletal structures. This event from my childhood influenced themes in my art such as extinction, conservation, and awareness. But at the same time, I come from a home ­­where my father is a big game hunter. So it isn’t unusual to see taxidermy, furs and skulls just lying around the house. Having both of these influences created an inner conflict between wanting to conserve and protect wildlife, but also being accepting of hunting for sport. On the other hand, when it comes to fantasy, much of my inspiration comes from my childhood playing video games with my brother. I would often watch him play, and would find myself fascinated more by the monsters than the actual characters or story of the game. I also draw many of my influences from bodies of fantasy work, and think about how the real world dangers that plague the animal kingdom can affect the creatures of that environment. I often find myself asking the question what if the monsters we read about in fairy tales and folklore experienced the same treatment that wildlife today face? What if those creatures were once real, and have since gone extinct; all that remains is the written documentation? Or what if these monsters did exist today? They would face situations such as entrapment in zoos and such other attractions for our entertainment, or possibly hunted for sport or goods. They could even face domestication as exotic pets. Be it extinction, entrapment, hunting, or even domestication, any creature is susceptible. On the other hand, what if wildlife had some sort of mythical element to it? Crossing the boundaries of what we know and what we imagine. These are the things I think about and explore in my work.