In my art studio, I have several files of photographs taken by me that contain some piece of life that speaks to me. I snap these photos quickly, without previous intention. I simply know that I would like to explore that moment more fully. Typically, I am drawn to the internal personal moments of a stranger. Other times, I am drawn to an interesting texture or lighting. I capture a photo of the moment and file it away with the intention to revisit the subject matter in paint. These photos are not professional by any stretch of the imagination. I use them as loose references for a painting. My ultimate goal is to capture the feeling of that moment or subject, rather than the exact detail.

After studying the photograph or series of photographs, I decide on a successful layout and sketch it with pencil onto my watercolor paper. Then, I use layers of watercolor to recapture the spark that initially drew me to that moment in time. When painting, I like to allow the paint to show me the way as much as I try to control it. I enjoy the way watercolor pigments react together, how the water changes the textures, and how the paint runs and blends on the paper. There is a give and take of control. Sometimes the effects that turn out were not initially intended, but they have a freshness that breathes life into the story of the painting.