[3] Proverbs 4:18

Abstract

Artist Statement

I try to put as much of myself into my paintings as possible. Christianity defines much of who I am, and this show, Proverbs, represents a part of my beliefs. I have worked with many different mediums, but the one that I feel the most passionately about is acrylic paint. It is the perfect medium for my personality, and the one that I have spent the most time working with.

I have chosen to represent four verses from this book of the Bible. They are some of my favorite verses because of the imagery that they evoke when read, including vipers, wine goblets, sunshine, dice, and all seeing eyes. Proverbs is one of my favorite books of the Bible, and probably the one that I have read the most. I enjoy the humor and honesty written within every verse. I chose to use various tones of black and white within my work to represent the black letters on the white pages that create the words of these verses and the not always “black and white” meanings behind them. The images that I stated were evoked by the reading of the verses are hidden within or created by the pattern in each of the paintings.

As long as I can remember I have been making black and white design patterns, although I have never attempted it on this scale before. I have come to think of my patterning as a sort of self-portrait that shows more of who I am than a true to life physical representation ever could. I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and the repetition and chaos within the pattern is a glimpse into my mind. I like to create work that I can lose myself both in the making and in the viewing of it. The reason that I chose to make the pattern a repetition of three, either black-white-black or white-black-white, is to represent the holy trinity in its completeness. The repetition of threes is something that is also used in Illuminated manuscripts, which are one of the things that inspired this body of work.

I am what I make. I am not perfect, so I do not expect anything I make to be perfect. I like myself in my imperfection, and it is the imperfections of my pieces, the grit and chaos, that make me like them. I want to make things that are beautiful, things that you can’t find anywhere else on earth. I want to serve my God in all that I do. I want to show what kind of artist, what kind of person I am in my work. It is through my paintings that I am completely honest and open. My mind and my soul are out there for everyone to observe. I hope you enjoy what you see.