Stay In Your Lane

oil on canvas, 24×36″

This piece is part of a series I am doing on female empowerment.  So many times, in so many ways, women are told to stay in the lanes that society has doled out for them– be a good mother; be a good wife; be happy and cheerful all the time; keep strong opinions to yourself; be pretty but not sexy; have a respectable job but don’t dare to chase your dreams.  The woman in this painting is like a fierce, untamed animal caught in the headlights of society’s judgement.  Only she refuses to contort herself into the many molds and constructs that others have tried to force upon her, and the energy of her dissent is palpable and electric.

Aphrodite Nocturnus

oil on canvas, 24×48″

The nude female form has always been a classic and iconic subject for artists, as has the historic and symbolic trove of Greek and Roman mythology. My take on Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love, is a modern and sensual tribute to this compelling goddess of both affection and eroticism.

Ophelia

oil on canvas, 20×30″

A subtle nod to Shakespeare’s character, Ophelia. However, instead of being driven to insanity and consequently drowning herself out of despair, my version of Ophelia imagines a different, more empowered outcome. In my version, she seeks refuge in the very waters that could drown her, and instead of succumbing to her worst impulses, she finds the emotional resilience within her own self to move forward and find peace.

Salt To The Sea

oil on canvas, 20×24″

That feeling you get as your feet sink further and further into the sand, the cold waves of the Pacific rushing at you on an endless loop.  It’s a very grounding and harmonious feeling, and makes me feel at one with the vastness of the ocean.  We are all bodies of earthly elements that will one day be returned to the sand and sea; the salt of our bodies mixing with the salt of the ocean.

Manzanita

oil on canvas, 24×36″

The quintessential view of Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain, as seen from Manzanita beach on the beautiful and scenic Oregon Coast. Feel serenity wash over your soul as you gaze into the softly rolling ocean waves, and all your troubles evaporate into the slowly drifting clouds of a summer’s day. Manzanita holds countless treasured memories and will forever be a special place close to my heart.

Magnolias In Bloom

oil on canvas, 36×24″

Celebrate the fleeting beauty of spring with an intricate look at the gorgeous blossoms on a magnolia tree, commonly referred to as a “tulip tree.”

Autumn Harvest

oil on canvas, 16×20″

An ode to the bounty of fall with gloriously-hued pumpkins gathered in a rustic farm cart.

Memento Mori

oil on canvas, 12×16″

Memento Mori is a Latin phrase meaning “remember you must die.” In classic still life paintings, skulls served as a symbol of death and encouraged viewers to meditate on their own mortality and reflect upon the life they’ve lived.