My art attempts to examine the true spirit of a female. I soon realized that everyone has a different idea of what that true female spirit might be. At first, I began trying to reveal some specific underlying essences in each figure with mixed success, but it was when I started to paint the nude female figure, with a mysterious void in their body, that my most powerful work emerged. While I have my own interpretations of what my images mean, I have been more encouraged that my viewers will fill the void with their own experiences and ideas.
In my early work, I attempted to peel back the outer layers of the figure to try to reveal their inner spirit, but I realized the gruesomeness of some of these images stood in the way of the viewer interpreting my intention. I began painting nude females with a void, through which different types of elements, (like water, smoke, and light), are emanating. This allowed the viewer to try to understand the elements in the void based on their own experiences. While these elements have specific meaning to me and my emotions, I enjoy that they also have different meanings to various people. I began to add 3D elements into my paintings such as modeling paste, silk flowers, and tea leaves, (to illustrate the life-giving qualities of the female spirit). In another piece, I used cotton to illustrate her smoldering spirit. I am encouraged by this new direction and look forward to making my new work.
