American Icon Series
I see myself as a story teller, a silent witness to the world around me. For me, it has always been about the image, not necessarily what I have seen, but what I have perceived beyond the facade. I am interested in exploring popular American cultural stereotypes, icons, images, slogans, advertisements, and the exploitation of the general public by the mass media. Over time, these iconic images take on a meaning all their own.
In each of my paintings I try to make use of these associated meanings as well as take them out of context and combined them with many other disparate images as a way to create new meanings. I also distort the perspective, play with the figure/ground relationship, create multiple layers, and use super saturated and vibrant colors, all in an effort to not only cause the viewer to reflect on what these icons in the past meant to them, but also what they may mean to them now. I like to create narrative works of art which provokes the viewer to question their beliefs and give them an opportunity to draw their own conclusions/interpretations of my paintings based on their experiences.
Process/Technique: Since all of these paintings are very large, I use a computer to enlarge and alter my images. I then transfer these images to the canvas by way of tracing paper and compose the rest by hand. I paint in oils and work on only one canvas at a time.