Artist's Statement

What makes us human? Is it our greed? Is it our envy? Perhaps it’s something more inspiring. Maybe we are human because we are capable of having hopes and dreams. We have the freedom to wake up one day and say to ourselves, “This is not enough, I need more from this life.”

Perhaps we feel the title of human is something we are entitled to no matter how barbaric we tend to be. I make films and I make paintings. Does that make me any more human? There are several types of people in this world. Each one is a unique individual with his or her own complex issues. These are private battles for them which we may never know. I am exploring these different types of people and their inner thoughts through paint.

When we face tribulations in our lives how do we react? These paintings explore various individuals in tense situations. Each piece of artwork contains an actor who is portraying someone going through a difficult time in his or her life. The challenge the model/actor faces is defining the thoughts of this human in one simple pose. Each subtle tilt of the head or position of the eye is carefully thought out.

My challenge is to capture what the actor has portrayed and to heighten the moment. What story can you derive from the characters? Can you pull enough information from the pose to create your own scenario? Each title is a clue intended to help jumpstart your own creative process. You’ll be surprised at your own writing ability. After all, many people say our creativity is indeed what makes us human.