Over the course of the past several summers I have found great joy in being outside in nature, particularly near bodies of water. Dealing with the tragedies and turmoil brought on by COVID-19, I found myself in a depressed and anxious state that was hard to pull myself from. Not only that but I had faced dealing with many personal problems relating to my health and relationships in my family.

I have always been fond of the beach, and fishing in particular because I spent my whole life being taught how to find solace near the water by my father and grandfather. Fishing and being near the ocean have always just been a part of my being. This is what lead me to create the series you see before you.

It wasn’t until 2020 when I took my first few trips out on the ocean, so far out that I couldn’t even see the land. This is where my absolute love for the ocean became more apparent in my life. Of course, I got sea sick as many would, but the serene feeling of solitude out there on the deep blue gave me feelings that I could never replace. My soul hungers to be out on the ocean as much as I possibly can.

This body of work I have executed focusing on the creatures of the sea was created to embody my love for all things oceanic relating to the vast nature and greatness that surrounds us in our everyday life that sometimes we neglect to notice. The vibrant colors portrayed within these pieces helps to bring focus to the importance of the sea creatures that we should cherish and be grateful for.

I love becoming all consumed with the medium that I am working with, which is prevalent in these works as the variety of paint texture is evident. I let the paint take control of how the work is executed. The act of making the art is the most important when creating a work of art rather than the actual piece itself. Looking at the series I have created, I hope to embody the importance of the sea life around us so that all can look at these pieces and see that there is still a bright hope for our future despite the situations we may face in our daily lives.

Reincarnated is defined as a rebirth in a new body or a form of life. The artworks in this exhibition seek to embody this definition. Having previously lived in North Carolina, my life was headed towards a path of destruction. Then in the year 2011, my life took a turn for the better when I made the decision to move to Virginia. Upon arriving in Virginia, I too felt like I had been reincarnated, by making better life choices about my future. Having this new, reincarnated life being so profoundly evident in my own life, I wanted to display this in the artwork I create.

Having the opportunity to visit Rome, Florence, Siena, and Pompeii in the year 2014 changed how I viewed ancient art, and it helped me to realize how important it is to me as a person. I wanted to bring back that same impact those works of art had on me to those around me who were not informed of art and its influence. The grand buildings and magnificent paintings that surrounded me imprinted on my life permanently. By using the bright, vibrant, youthful appearing colors along with the dimensional application, I seek to communicate the new life that has emerged from these ancients works of art. This new life is my own interpretation for a new Renaissance for these works of art; a way of looking at these works of art with more appreciation.

Working with the medium of oil paint enabled me to create thick colorful areas of oil paint on my canvas that helped me to mimic the three-dimensionality of the objects in reality. Having the ability to re-create this dimensionality on a canvas was of importance to me being that my first preferred medium to work with in college was clay.

The Renaissance helped to create a new life within the art world. Enabling a more creative and emotional aspect to emerge in the art from the artist. The ability to incorporate more emotion and intent within the ancient works of art helped the viewers to connect on a more personal level with the art and the artist. By the techniques I have chosen it was my intention to rejuvenate these artworks so they can be appreciated once more for the breakthroughs they have achieved over time. Creating this new, reincarnated life within these artworks evokes a sense of hope that there is life still within these ancient works of art, just as there is still hope for a bright future in my own life.

Over the course of my college career, I have focused on making art in relation to the three-dimensional world. I worked with clay creating a variety of pieces for my own interest. I have made works of art based off specific places that I have gone in my life that affected me greatly. However, during the course of this semester my focus has changed. I wanted to bring to attention the people in my life that have helped me along the way, and who have influenced my life since being in college.

Working with a variety of mediums, I have created a collection of works that pays the respect to the individuals that have stuck by my side, and who have helped me to overcome hardships in my life. Using different techniques, I was able to recreate the personality of each individual represented in my pieces. This was especially important to me because people are unique in their own way, and special attention should be made when creating the works of art that coincide with the individual to represent them accurately.

As an emerging artist, I know that my works of art will take a variety of pathways because my interests are always changing. However, my college experience has helped me to mold and shape my abilities and interests in a variety of ways. After creating works of art in a variety of mediums, I do realize the importance of color, shape, and texture in all of my pieces. These aspects of art are important to me because they help to evoke a certain feeling that I am experiencing when creating the piece. I love becoming all consumed with the medium that I am working with at the time, and I let it control how the work is executed. The act of making the art is the most important when creating a work of art rather than the actual piece itself. However, it is always exciting to look back on pieces I have completed, whether by force or enjoyment, to see all of the different little aspects of them. It helps me to fall in love with the piece all over again.