Artist Statement

I am interested in animals not simply as subjects, but as forms of presence.

My paintings begin with wildlife—but the goal is not to create a traditional animal portrait. I am more concerned with creating a work of art: something that has its own presence, tension and sense of place.

I am drawn to the directness and simplicity of ancient cave paintings. With only a few lines and forms, ancient artists could convey the essential character and presence of an animal. I seek a similar simplicity in my own work, stripping away the unnecessary and allowing the viewer to bring something of their own to the image.

My paintings are deliberately quiet. I use a restrained palette and broad areas of space to focus attention on the weight, movement and physical presence of the animal. Brushwork and palette-knife marks remain visible, allowing the process of making the painting to become part of the work.

Animals are an important part of my visual language. They are familiar to me, but I am not trying to document them. Instead, I use them as a starting point for exploring something more universal—the relationship between animals, landscape and the human experience of the natural world.

Ultimately, I want the painting to stand on its own. The animal may be recognizable, but it is only the beginning. What matters to me is what remains after the subject has been reduced to its essential form.