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.
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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.
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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.
Education
Fall 2019
Pratt
From Sketches to Stories
Shawne Cooper
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Fall 2015
School of Visual Arts
Contemporary Painting Lab
Emily Weiner
2006-2010
Hofstra University Fine Arts Minor
Tom Klinkowstein
Laurie Fendrich
Jim Lee
Doug Hilson
Shows
April 2020
The Art Student's League of New York Life Under the Pandemic Moon
Online Exhibition
January 2020
Greenpoint Art Circle Debut Group Art Show
Brooklyn Bliss
February 2019
People’s Choice Salon
Greenpoint Gallery
June 2018
Greenpoint Open Studios
Java Studios
Artist Apprenticeships
2020
VAWAA (Vacation With An Artist, Tessa)
The Hague, Netherlands - Postponed
2016 - 2019
Hein Koh
Brooklyn, NY
INTERIORS DURING PANDEMIC
April 2020
"Interiors During Pandemic" is a collection of views from inside, where life persists but it's hard to thrive. Memories of the outside world are murky, and experiencing it now is out of reach, but we need to remember the end of this experience is coming, and it will be bright. I created this series of photos almost out of resentment for people who live in the suburbs and own their own greenspace. I also wanted to reflect on how we invest in making our interiors beautiful, but it doesn’t compare with the natural world, which New Yorkers take for granted.
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The series was featured in The Art Student's League of New York's online exhibition "Life Under the Pandemic Moon:
EVERYDAY IMPORTANT OBJECTS
2007-2019
DRAWINGS
2007-2019
PORTRAITURE
2009
