Large, swooping brush strokes is where I’m most at home. Inspired by both the art and natural landscapes of Southern Africa, where I grew up, I work with either bright colors or stark black and white styles. I’m enthralled with texture and bringing paintings up off the canvas and into life with modeling paste. Southern African landscapes make their way into the backdrop of many pieces I do, as well as aspects of its culture. One large piece of the culture I experienced that guides my art is how profoundly and loudly the people express both their grief and happiness. What my hands do on canvas or paper allows me express the same. Creation provides me with sometimes the only way I can feel loudly. My hope and vision for my art is that in creating ability for myself to feel authentic emotion, it opens the door for others to do the same.