Artist Statement

                                                       "Ascension"

                This series of paintings focuses on shells as a metaphor for our life. As we experience hardships, we learn how to protect our vulnerabilities. As a shell’s form is created to deter predators from harm, the subject of my paintings act similarly as shields to defend against the uncertainties of life. Each shell’s upright and central placement within the composition emphasizes their assumed ability to protect. When viewed in this perspective, the shells act as symbols for strength and resilience. The scale, circular format, vivid color combinations and heightened contrast all work in tandem to magnify the physical characteristics that emphasize the purpose of the structure itself. Ironically these particular shells are miniscule in size. Through increasing the scale of my subject, I present them as objects of great monumentality. These shells are presented in powerful regal poses, allowing them to take on a larger than life figural presence, which is reflected in the history of portraiture. What was once a container for a living creature is now brought forth into an imaginary environment that allows us to see the grandiose beauty of an object with purpose.