frequently asked questions

how long does it take to create a painting?

I like to work paintings in batches, going back and forth on several throughout my day so it’s a little hard to tell. I went through a (very short) period of trying to track my hours and found that it took some of the fun out of the process. Ideally, a painting just tells me when it’s done, with some coming together in a week while some take months or even years to feel right (although gallery openings certainly light a fire to get things finished :)

why does your signature vary from piece to piece?

An artist’s signature almost gets a mythic amount of significance. I do think it’s an important way to connect and authenticate work for an artist. However, I also think the artist’s signature should visually add to the piece - not distract from it. Having the same signature on each piece when my painting style moves around a lot doesn’t seem like a fit. So, I have my standard signature when the painting calls for it, while many get a custom version.

You reference a lot of others artists in your work…who is your personal favorite?

From a technical standpoint, I almost always default to Vermeer. But there’s a reason I reference so many different artists…I think there are so many that have something to offer, both through their painting and thinking style. At the moment, my top five are probably Vermeer, Picasso, Dali, Warhol and Banksy… but next week, who knows.