The majority of my undergraduate studies focused on capturing memories through portraits and figures, and I usually worked from photos of my closest family and friends. This body of work was integral to processing the transition from childhood to adulthood. As I stumbled through college - an exciting, tumultuous four years full of newness that I often didn’t feel ready for - I wanted to recreate candid photos of my young nieces and cousins to preserve the wonder and simplicity I missed from my youth. Drawing was a very nostalgic practice, as it allowed me to relive moments that felt insignificant at the time, but meant everything to me later on.

Though I’ve since stepped away from portraiture and figurative work, I believe these paintings and drawings were an important stepping stone toward my current style of whimsical, abstract paintings.