Portfolio
A collection of works completed thus far in my degree
Moments in Bloom, Painting 1
Oil Paint on Canvas, 36″ x 24″
The painting focuses on photorealism, using sharp detail on the caterpillar contrasted with the blurred petals and background to create depth and realism. It explores a moment of stillness in nature, highlighting the beauty and transformation found in small, often overlooked details. Sharp focus on the caterpillar contrasts with the soft, blurred petals, creating depth. The vibrant colors and light manipulation add texture, enhancing the lifelike quality of the scene.
Remembrance, Drawing 2 (current)
Charcoal on Mi Tientes Paper, 19″ x 25″
In this piece I was challenged to compose and capture a still life that was more than just random objects. Inspired by Hans Holbein, I endeavored to create a momento mori with layers of symbolism. Some elements are more classic to momento mori’s, and others are more nuanced, such as the incorporation of flowers – often seen as a symbol of life and new growth, they are also primary features of funeral gatherings and remembrances. The flowers also serve to bring a personal touch, my love of nature, into the piece, along with many others.
Promise Keeper, Painting 1
Oil paint on panel, 18″
This is my first exploration of the alla prima style of oil painting, which I fell in love with easily. This piece taught me alot about working with oil paints as a medium and also about conveying certain light relationships and translucency.
Ready to Burn, 3D Design
Matchstick Sculpture, 9″
In this piece, we had free reign to choose materials, but we had to create a piece that was a bit of an oxymoron or ironic in some way. I chose to create a phoenix out of matchsticks. Though phoenix burn and die, and this one is clearly vulnerable to such an event, he stands wings high in a position of strength, ready for anything.
Vibrant Thoughts, Life Drawing
Pastel on Paper, 24″ x 36″
This life drawing began as a traditional study of a seated figure, but evolved into an exploration of the inner world. Using expressive colors and abstract doodles, I sought to capture the imagined thoughts and emotions of the model as he sat in stillness. The dynamic shapes and vibrant hues reflect the complex, often unseen layers of consciousness, blending the external reality with the internal mindscape. This piece became a fusion of observation and creative interpretation, moving beyond the figure to convey a deeper sense of introspection. It also challenged me technically to draw for the first time in sight size from a distance with the use of a plumb-line.
St. Andrew, Painting 2 (current)
Oil Paint on Canvas Paper, 9″ x 12″
This piece was an exploration of values and new materials, focusing on a cast study of St. Andrew. The challenge lay in painting from an all-white cast, requiring a high degree of restraint and precision in capturing the subtle shifts in value. Working in high key, I aimed to convey depth and form using a limited tonal range. This exercise not only sharpened my ability to observe nuanced light and shadow but also pushed me to develop greater control over the material, resulting in a refined representation of the subject.
The Saffron Finch, Painting 1
Oil paint on canvas, 22″ x 28″
Created from a photograph of mine, this painting taught me more about selectively directing the viewers eye. For example, in the original photograph, the branch is more detailed and the background is slightly more in focus, and is more contrasting. By choosing to soften the focus and contrast on these elements in comparison to the finch, I am able to keep the focus entirely on the bird and the extreme levels of detail available when viewing closely.
His Grace, Painting 1
Oil paint on panel, 11″ x 14″
This was the first oil painting I ever did, as well as the first still life I ever composed myself. This was a composition I immediately had a vision for, though I cant seem to decide if it is done or not. I it my first ever exploration of the piece, with the first section being the fabric, which I believe is obvious, looking a little rough still, and even some places where the wet paint was smudged. However, it also reminds me of God’s grace for our journey and love for us despite our imperfections. For this reason, I’m not sure I’ll ever “finish” this painting.
Knot the end, Color Theory
Acrylic Paint on Paper, 14″ x 14″
For this assignment, we explored repetition, color relationships, and the use of gradients. It was also intended to get us used to using acrylic paints. I had fun exploring the way that values made the celtic knot shape bend and move in a sort of optical illusion. I also explored the effect that different background colors had on the orange hue.
Balance, Design 1
Acrylic Paint on Paper, 18″ x 24″
This piece was an exploration of values, composition, and new materials. Following certain parameters, we created a composition with a full range of values, using acrylic paints with an aim to keep it as clean as possible.
Vanitas, Painting 2 (current)
Oil Paint on Canvas Paper, 9″ x 12″
I quite enjoyed working on this piece, dialing in my skills of accurately representing values and texture. This still life was a great exercise in form and to train the eye. It was also an exploration of the zorn palette.
Fanciful, Design 1
Ink Marker on Paper, 18″ x 24″
This line and pattern assignment was a fun exploration of composition and imagination. The piece was also a challenge of technique and precision, as there was no room for errors with materials used and precise linework.
Macaw, Color Theory
Acrylic Paint on Paper, 9″ x 24″
For this assignment, we chose an image to recreate three times using the different color relationships. I chose to use a photograph of mine of a macaw. The macaw is represented in monochromatic, complimentary, and analogous color schemes.
Splash of Ideas, Digital Art
Illustrator and Cardstock, 4″ x 6″
For this assignment, we used adobe Illustrator to design 3 cohesive patterns that could be repeated and used for printing. We then saw our designs come to life by making them into notebooks.
The Pipevine Swallowtail, Painting 1
Oil paint on canvas, 20″ x 24″
This piece continues my exploration of photorealism, with a focus on enhancing the original reference photo. I achieved this by adjusting the composition through a tighter crop, further blurring the background, and restoring details that were lost in the photograph. A significant part of this project involved studying edge work, refining my ability to decide when to create soft, hard, or lost edges, adding depth and realism to the butterfly and its surroundings. This process taught me how subtle changes can elevate the painting beyond the original image, resulting in a more dynamic and lifelike result.
Re-Captured, 3D Design
Cardboard Sculpture, 6″x 5″ x 4″
In this project for 3D Design, we were tasked with using cardboard to make a sculpture of our choosing. I elected to create a life-size camera from a patterned piece of cardboard packaging. This assignment got me out of my comfort zone of mediums, and allowed me to create a piece to pay homage to one of my favorite art forms, photography.
Desert Relic, Drawing 1
Graphite on Paper, 18″ x 24″
This was a multi-day still life project, and one of the first times I really fell in love with photorealism. This class was online during Covid, so we worked from a photo provided to us. I spent countless hours loosing track of time drawing in every little crack in the skull. This drawing revealed new levels of my patience when it comes to creating accurate art, something that serves me to this day. The experience also helped me refine my attention to detail and my ability to convey texture and form through precise shading, ultimately shaping my approach to future works. The quiet focus I found in this piece continues to inspire my artistic journey.
Reverie, Painting 1
Oil paint on canvas, 12″ x 12″
This is my first oil painting I ever finished, and the second one I ever started. It was very much an exploration of the medium, but also a study of light. I explored how the light interacts with different textures to create varying levels of transparency and luminosity. I also learned about reflective light, and filling in lost shadows from photographs, with the colorect colors. This painting was the start of my journey to create paintings that look better than the photos.
Morning Revelation, Digital Art
Illustrator and Cardstock, 10″ x 16″
For this assignment, we were given random prompts for concept, textures, elements, etc. I was given “reveal” as my concept. In “Morning Revelation,” I aimed to capture parallels to the biblical concept of revelation, a spin on “reveal”. The use of a cardboard texture symbolizes humility and simplicity, while the inclusion of the Greek letters alpha and omega signifies the beginning and the end, echoing Revelation 22:13. The sunrise represents the start of a new day filled with hope and possibilities, juxtaposed with a mirror frame reflecting self-discovery and introspection. The angel wing and praise hand signify divine guidance and gratitude, completing the narrative of spiritual enlightenment and personal growth.
Chain Breaker, Design 1
Acrylic Paint on Paper, 12″ x 18″
For this assignment we were instructed to create/use a pattern to create a piece of art. I chose a chainlink design, with it’s color changes telling a story. In this piece, the chain starts off dark and dull, symbolizing patterns, habits, or even addictions in our life. In the middle row, the colors become more saturated as the chain breaks free, symbolizing renewed strength and breaking of addictions and old patterns. Finally, we see a bright new chain symbolizing new patterns and a renewed sense of life full of vibrancy.