I am inspired by the beauty of the female form and by how the lines and shapes inherent in the figure interact with the spaces around them. In my work, the figure is pared down to it’s essential elements and placed in an equally spare environment. I work with the elements of light and hue to create abstract shape within and around the figure.

Strong light passing over the body creates new structure within the form, while soft lighting accentuates the ideal of the feminine. Evenly toned color fields lie in contrast to one another and to the modeled elements within the figure.

I began to take an artistic interest in the figure at an early age, later pursuing studies in life drawing at the University of Kansas. Though I have worked extensively from the model, my current compositions are composites of many poses. I draw on memory and imagination to create dynamic situations where the figure becomes the separating, and at the same time unifying structure within the composition.

Formal considerations take precedence over any narrative qualities inherent in the figure. Reduced emphasis on texture enhances the drawn line. Modigliani has been an abiding influence in my approach to the figure, both in drawing and concept. His interpretation of the female as pillar of strength and support translates into the monumental and sculptural form in my work.

Forbidden Planet, Robbie the Robot