This watercolor self-portrait was created for a pandemic-era exhibition, reflecting a moment when everyday life—and our interactions with one another—were filtered through uncertainty and distance. In the painting, I depict myself wearing a mask and my favorite glasses, meeting the viewer’s gaze with a sense of cautious awareness. The mask, once an unfamiliar object, became a defining symbol of the time: a barrier between people, but also a marker of shared experience.

The composition is intentionally tight and slightly off-center, creating a subtle feeling of unease. By crowding the frame and shifting the figure away from perfect balance, the image mirrors the emotional disorientation many experienced during this period. The viewer is brought uncomfortably close, confronted directly by a wary gaze that reflects both observation and self-protection.

Loose, flowing strands of wavy hair move vertical within the composition, softening the structure of the portrait and introducing a sense of motion. These fluid lines help guide the viewer back toward the focal point—the eyes themselves. With much of the face concealed, expression must be carried through the gaze, which becomes the primary channel of connection between subject and viewer.

Through this portrait, I sought to capture a personal response to a collective moment in history. It reflects both vulnerability and resilience, documenting a time when identity, visibility, and human connection were reshaped by circumstance.

Watercolor

framed

20 × 24 work

24 × 28 framed

This piece draws inspiration from Gaia, the ancient embodiment of the Earth, and from the deep mythology of forests and wild landscapes. The figure appears both human and elemental—a guardian presence emerging from the woodland itself. Draped in flowing forms that echo bark, moss, and stone, she stands quietly within the space of the painting as if rooted to the living ground beneath her.

The crown, composed of jewel-like forms, suggests seeds, stones, or sacred offerings gathered from the natural world. Each colored element carries the feeling of something ancient and elemental, evoking the quiet treasures of the forest floor. Behind her, dark branching forms stretch across a luminous field of yellow-green, recalling the silhouettes of winter trees against shifting light. These branches seem to grow outward from the figure, blurring the boundary between body and landscape.

The palette pushes the figure into a realm that is both earthly and mythic. Vivid pinks and warm tones animate the form, suggesting vitality and living flesh, while the surrounding greens and yellows create an atmosphere of growth, renewal, and natural energy. The contrast between these colors heightens the sense that the figure is both part of the forest and a spirit presiding over it.

Rooted in woodland mythos, the work imagines Gaia not as a distant deity but as a quiet, watchful presence embedded within the living landscape. She stands as a reminder that the forest is not merely scenery but a living system—ancient, powerful, and deeply intertwined with human existence.

Acrylic

24 × 30 × 2 gallery wrapped canvas

Motherhood is a mixed media painting that uses the act of painting itself as a metaphor for the experience of being a mother. Bright, energetic layers of paint—applied in varying opacities—create a richly textured surface that mirrors the many strata of obligation, responsibility, and meaning that come with the role. Simplified forms of mother and child emerge, outlined in primitive, expressive lines. The fluctuating spaces between them leave the relationships ambiguous: are the child figures approaching, or are they pulling away from the mother, who is contorted along the left edge of the frame?

This original painting is 24 × 24 × 1.5 with painted gallery sides.

As a long-time chicken owner, I’ve come to appreciate the distinct personalities each of my girls possesses. One afternoon, I happened upon a small group gathered closely together. When I paused to observe them, they turned their gaze toward me as though I had interrupted an important conversation. In that moment, it felt as if I had caught them gossiping.

I began photographing their expressions, drawn to the subtle but unmistakable attitudes in their faces—the sharp side-eye, the direct stare, the unmistakable air of judgment. Their tightly packed formation heightens this impression, reinforcing the sense of a unified front: a flock of “mean girls” silently sizing up the viewer.

The flat seafoam green background removes any sense of place or distraction, isolating the group and amplifying their presence. Without environmental context, the viewer is confronted directly by their collective gaze. The simplicity of the backdrop emphasizes the humor and personality of the moment, allowing these everyday farm animals to take on an almost human quality.

Through this portrait, I aim to capture the wit, character, and social dynamics that emerge when living closely with animals. What might appear to be an ordinary gathering of chickens becomes, for a brief moment, a scene of attitude, curiosity, and unmistakable personality.

acrylic

24 × 30 × 2 on a gallery wrapped canvas

In the wake of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing, I found myself reflecting on the profound impact of her work and the many landmark cases that reshaped the legal and cultural landscape of the United States. Throughout her career, she championed gender equality and helped lead the charge toward pay equity, fundamentally altering opportunities for women in the workplace and beyond.

The background of this piece incorporates handwirtten text from the landmark case Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., in which Justice Ginsburg issued a powerful dissent. Though the ruling initially limited recourse for workers facing pay discrimination, her dissent sparked public attention and ultimately helped inspire the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This legislation restored critical protections and provided a pathway for women and others to challenge wage discrimination.

Floral elements woven throughout the composition symbolize renewal and rebirth—an acknowledgment that progress often grows from struggle and persistence. The palette of blue and white references Justice Ginsburg’s Jewish faith, while the decorative elements pay homage to her iconic judicial collars, which became visual symbols of both her individuality and her authority on the bench.

This work honors Justice Ginsburg not only as a jurist but as a cultural force whose legacy continues to shape conversations about justice, equality, and the enduring pursuit of fairness.

Watercolor

20 × 16

24 × 20 framed