ART

Outside of my day job as a marketing strategist, I have been building a creative practice including painting, photography, illustration, and fiber arts. I've been creating art since I was four years old - and have the sketchbooks to prove it. Art was never something that I was encouraged to do for a living and didn't focus on it as part of my education, until I went to Hofstra University and starting painting. I drew on inspiration from the nostalgia I felt from childhood photos and developing abstractions based on everyday objects.

For the first time in my life, I was praised for something that came so naturally. I pursued a minor in Fine Arts while being taught by practicing artists and professors Laurie Fendrich, Jim Lee, Doug Hilson, and Tom Klinkowstein. After graduating from Hofstra, I could never make time for painting other than the occasional family gift, including a series of repeated abstractions of food inspired by my nieces and nephews. In 2015, I joined SVA’s Contemporary Painting Lab under Emily Weiner, which reinvigorated my love for painting and introduced me to oils. She encouraged my work, saying I had the talent, technique, and creativity needed - I just needed to make the time and find the discipline to dedicate to my practice.

In the fall of 2019, I studied under urban sketch artist and illustrator Shawne Cooper as part of Pratt's Continuing Education program and learn how to capture feelings and experiences by combining sketching and writing.

I'm currently experimenting with abstract expressionism through both oil and acrylic painting. I'm also planning to debut a new photography portfolio highlighting landscapes and architecture captured during my travels. One theme I'm exploring is no matter how individualistic humans can be, there are still shared experiences, and a larger story than what is shown to us. There is great value in the everyday objects and people that we see.

I'm continually looking for ways to make time for my art and connect with other artists. Throughout 2020 I'm working to dedicate at least one hour every day to my creative practice and document on the Instagram account @CreativeOfficeHours.

Creative Office Hours