Artist's Statement

For the past three years I have been painting a series of memorial gardens and homages to Midwestern artists and architects (primarily Chicago-based), including Roger Brown, Louis Sullivan, H.C. Westerman, Henry Darger, Richard Nickel, etc..., who have had a significant influence on my development as an artist. Their artwork, buildings, and designs have taught me how to interpret the world and build a visual narrative. I also have a strong response to their portrayals of nature in a man-made environment.

I have recently begun to take this series one step further by focusing on compositions inspired by Graceland Cemetery. The cemetery is a repository of Chicago history, architecture and a microcosm of artistic and architectural details. I will continue to focus on monuments that are part of the Chicago vernacular and history. I will also continue to paint in the style that I feel best expresses my artistic intentions, which is similar to the style of the Dutch artists of the 17th century.