I use my art to showcase the beauty in the unexpected. I find inspiration in the unusual. My work heavily features women, and I am drawn to unconventional beauties; I like to challenge ideas of what beauty is, by highlighting the beauty I find in unsuspecting places. Conversely, I depict the grotesque side of The Standard of Beauty, and the pursuit of that standard at the expense of the true self. 

I also try to capture the unexpected in my process. I work fast, and messy. I prioritize expressive lines and spontaneity. Whether working digitally, or traditionally with ink or paint, I try to let the first sketch shine. The idea, and the feeling, is purest in the first sketch. This keeps my whole process very organic. 

I reject the Standardization of Beauty. Beauty, to me, means interesting, expressive, powerful. When I’m depicting people from imagination, the most exciting moment is a face organically emerging unlike any other I’ve drawn or seen. It echoes the excitement I feel when I see a face, naturally created, that is really unique in some way.  

Natural beauty is also prevalent in my work. My art is a manifestation of my awe at the Universe as the ultimate artist. I’m drawn to all strange and bizarre creatures in the same way I’m drawn to unique faces. I am excited by the absurd, totally singular, surprising. I showcase beauty that may be overlooked, because I think most of us are underestimating the wealth of beauty we are surrounded by. I want that beauty to reflect back to the viewer, too. If you can understand the beauty of this thing, you can understand the beauty of yourself. And on the other hand, you’re seeing the absurd and the upsetting in a standardization of beauty, in the idea that there is some concrete ideal to attain.

As inspired as I am by the natural world, I also use themes of fantasy. I imagine alternate worlds, possible futures. I use the vehicle of make-believe to open the mind. In a fantasy, certain truths become easier to share, and to understand. Having a background in theater and animation, I appreciate the power of the fantastical. Imagination is the manifestation of the most beautiful part of ourselves. Our minds, our spirits, our ideas. Authentic expression is vital to me, and a child-like, fantastical approach allows for that. My work encourages the viewer both to look closer at the world around them, and to imagine a different world.