Paintings
In the wake of profound loss, my artistic journey has evolved as a means to process and understand grief. Having lost many loved ones over the years, including my father most recently, I have found myself drawn to themes of life, death, and regeneration—searching for solace and clarity in the face of impermanence.
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While my earlier work often gravitated towards charcoal and graphite, I have now embraced painting as a more gentle, inviting medium. In paint, I’ve found a softness that allows for healing and reflection, a space where emotions are less constrained. These works are my most recent, created in 2024, and they represent a rediscovery of myself as an artist in the aftermath of loss—a visual exploration of how life continues, transforms, and renews itself.
little one
Acrylic on Canvas
48" x 36"
2024
Original drawing available for purchase.
INTRODUCTION:​
In this work, I see a reflection of myself—vulnerable, nestled in the weight of life’s quiet moments of grief and healing. The fawn, curled in a peaceful yet cautious state, represents the fragility of life, surrounded by symbols of hope, movement, and connection. The stars and birds float above, representing the cycle of life and death, a recurring theme in my work. They are both distant and comforting, a reminder of the forces that exist beyond us but that connect all things. The soft strokes and contrast between the fawn and the dark background mirror my own journey—finding peace amidst the darkness, guided by nature and the symbols I hold dear.
Where the sky ends
Acrylic on Canvas
48" x 60"
2024
INTRODUCTION:​
In this painting, I explore my childhood love for horses and the memories tied to a time when life was more complete, before the losses began to accumulate. The horse, strong and free, embodies the joy and freedom I experienced spending summers on my aunt and uncle's farm. They taught me to ride and train horses, and I spent countless days exploring the fields and picking blackberries. Now, both the farm and my uncle are gone, yet their presence lingers.
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The birds circling above the horse form a halo, a reflection of how my memories and the natural world create their own form of religion—a source of comfort, continuity, and meaning. The stars serve as guides, marking the way forward in the midst of grief, reminding me of the cyclical nature of life and death. As the horse moves forward, so do I, carrying the weight of both loss and the beautiful memories that sustain me.
longing for new life
Acrylic on Canvas
24" x 36
2024
INTRODUCTION:
This piece reflects my deep desire for renewal, for a fresh start after the immense losses I’ve experienced. After losing many of my loved ones, I’ve found myself yearning for a place where I can begin again, where the weight of memory is lighter, and where new growth is possible. The trout depicted here do not belong to Oklahoma, where I currently live, but to the rivers of the western states—places I dream of one day calling home. The trout represent this longing for a new life, where I can both escape and regenerate, much like the rivers that continuously flow, carrying life forward.
This work is about seeking solace in nature, in landscapes unfamiliar but inviting, and in the possibility of transformation through grief.
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