Among the Stars

(Featured in Holiday Miniatures Show: Abend Gallery December 2023) *SOLD* If I am nothing but a tiny ripple in a vast ocean, a speck of light in an infinite sky of stars, how do I matter? And if my time on this pale blue dot is only a microscopic blip on the timeline of its existence, why should I live with purpose? As she contemplated these thoughts the universe asked her to lay her head down. And as she did this she was shown the people that she loved and how her existence altered them, microscopically shifting their life path just by being herself and loving with her full heart. And then she saw how her influence in that person altered another person. And then her impact on that person influenced another. She was shown the spread of her impact again and again, a light that spread further than she could ever imagine, until it finally stopped and her presence in the world was not longer. Even though her impact was great eventually all memory of her would fade and her mark will eventually disappear. 

The universe told her even though her wave would eventually return to the ocean as if it had never existed in the first place, it did exist in perfect beauty in the exact right moment and it will find its resting place back in the collective of the universe.

Original Piece Size: 8”x10”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Choosing Light

*SOLD* I never had a choice whether or not I wanted to feel so intensely. Having a heightened sensitivity was always a part of me ever since I was young and I could never escape it even when I wanted to. As a child I couldn’t change that I experienced the world and people around me so viscerally even when it hurt to do so. The emotions and experiences of the people I cared most about always seemed to weigh heavily on my heart, vibrating through me so loudly that they sometimes distracted from my own experiences.

And now as an adult I see how tempting it can be to numb myself to what I see around me. Pulling my hands away from the flame and leaving its warmth behind out of fear of getting burned. And even while I can understand this instinct out of self preservation I know that it wouldn’t be true to who I am. There is strength in my fragile soul, a strength that allows me to care for what I love and what I stand for.

So I am choosing to hold the candle as I expose my heart to its warmth and danger as I embrace my sensitive spirit. Opening myself to experience all that the world has to offer so that I can paint my own truth.

Original Piece Size: 14”x20”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Sanctuary

All I ever wanted was to be close to my aliveness to feel the vicious-tender heat of my heart burn the edges between myself and the world.

Vulnerability is an invitation a request for life to press up against you to unmoor you, again and again until the petals loosen and drop like teeth (the waiting buds already aching).

How would it feel to wear uncertainty like a cloak? Surrender into its folds slip inside its sanctuary and pray at its altar? What I am now understanding is that there is a soft violence in withholding yourself from the world. A psychic bruising. Today I am hungry for a sign that I am between this

and something greater. That I will know the glowing light in the distance as my own and find comfort in the dark knowing I will never reach it.

By Emilie Howlett

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Apricity

When we are in the depths of a cold and bitter winter, the warmth of sunlight can bring us a deeper appreciation for ourselves and what surrounds us. It is in these winter months that the sun shows itself much less, giving us shorter days and colder temperatures. So we appreciate it even more when we are blessed with its warmth and radiance.

The moment that the pure light hits our skin our sense of self is rejuvenated and we are able to look beyond the minute inconveniences in everyday life and think about the big questions. Who do I want to me? Where do I want my life to go? What inspires me? 

As she lays in the frigid snow at sunset she allows the rays of sunlight to kiss her skin and warm her soul. Giving her a renewed sense of self and a desire to grow. 

Original Piece Size: 24”x36”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Wishing for Eternity

The person in this painting awoke with the stars still high in the sky, in need of the healing power of nature as she walked over valleys and mountains to find a beautiful cliff to rest. She didn’t know when or where she was but she knew that she needed the comfort of nature, she needed to feel the fall leaves beneath her feet and smell the fresh mountain air. As she sat and rested on the cold rock on the cliff edge, she noticed her vision began to brighten. Light began to cascade through the hills and an unexpected sunrise started to unfurl. The mist around her was suddenly illuminated by the sunlight and she felt the warmth of a new day arriving. And she started to realize that of all the places and times in the universe, this was the only place she wanted to be. Right here and now. She could live in this moment for an eternity. Even though she understands the ever changing nature of her world she wants nothing more than to stay in the here and now. For the first time in her existence she feels fully embraced by the nature around her, seeing her in her true essence and loving her for all that she is, was, and will be. But in this bliss she also mourns the ephemeral nature of this moment and inevitable changes that are to come once this moment passes. The sun will eventually set, the seasons will change and she will no longer be the same person she is in this moment. And she decides to live in this tension between what is and what’s to come. Appreciating moments of pure contentment, happiness, and bliss but knowing that they will end and evolve into something else.

Original Piece Size: 24”x18”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Light After Dark

International ARC Salon Semi-Finalist

(Featured in Solo Show Terra Human June 2022) This piece illustrates the morning after a prolonged darkness of pain and helplessness. When we hurt for the world we feel an unrelenting sadness to our core and it can be unbelievably difficult to see how the sun will rise again. There are so many aspects of this world that can make us feel powerless, to the point when we may even feel that have lost autonomy over our own bodies and minds. But on this particular morning, the sun rose with incredible power, casting warmth and light on all those people who try to do good in this world. The sunbeams illuminate these individuals showing their love and empathy and as you open your eyes you can see their drive to change our world for the better. Even knowing that the darkness will inevitably take over again, the intense light gives us a renewed sense of agency to fight for others and to fight for a better world.

Original Piece Size: 10”x15”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Sower of Seeds

(Featured in Solo Show Terra Human June 2022) This painting shows a man in complete harmony with the nature that surrounds him. But this harmony hasn’t always existed, in the distant past this being thought  himself superior to the natural world and chose to exploit it for personal gain.  He completely lost his identity and his relationship with nature in the pursuit for power. Eventually this conflict reached a breaking point and the man was forced to confront his misdoings and reshape his relationship with the fading life that sounded him. This man spent years working to reverse his mistreatments to our world while closely studying how the smallest lifeforms live in cooperative harmony. Across these many years he has also done the work of self-reflection and personal growth to find a balance in his soul that gave him a renewed respect for nature. And once he found this balance and drastically changed his actions, the grass and trees around him began to feel safe to embrace him once again even while knowing his dark and selfish past. Even after all of the wrong he did, the most vulnerable life forms in our world embraced him with forgiveness and acceptance. This being who used to be a destroyer and conqueror has now became a true nurturer of life, serving as a protector of the planet that gave him everything he knows.

Original Piece Size: 10”x14”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Protected Spirit

(Featured in Solo Show Terra Human June 2022) *SOLD* As we grow from children to adults our harsh and structured world does its best to conform us, placing us in categorized boxes of adulthood to keep our world organized. The first thing to be lost in this process is our childlike creativity that brings joy, wonder and excitement into our lives. The hands in this painting are protecting this pure and creative spirit even while the outside world attempts to extinguish it. This energetic spirit longs to dance, create with colors, sing songs and construct stories as a way to bring life into a sometimes colorless world. These hands are choosing to foster this spirit in order to encourage love and empathy in a world that needs it now more than ever.

Original Piece Size: 9”x12”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Coherence

(Featured in Solo Show Terra Human June 2022) This painting provides a visualization of the dichotomy between how we see ourselves and how others see us. When we do the intense work of learning about ourselves and consciously choose to grow we can feel lost and fragmented. Just like plants, as we grow our branches might split in order to reach in new facets of ourselves but they are still rooted to the same source. In our eyes this growing and splitting can make us feel fractured and undefined, lost because we are looking for purpose. But in the eyes of those who love us, they can step back and see us as a beautiful collage of intertwining and complex branches, growing towards the light of self-knowledge. When they look into our eyes they see all of our new and old facets defining us and guiding us to our true identity.

Original Piece Size: 12”x16”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Citadel

(Featured in Solo Show Terra Human June 2022) As she looks towards the setting sun, she thinks of the many people who tried to remove her from this exact spot. Their words trying to convince her that she was undeserving of love and too vulnerable to achieve her ambitions. She thinks of the many sacrifices that she made in order to forge her own path in a world trying to push her into mediocrity. No matter how much doubt manifested in her head and no matter how much negativity she received from others, she chose to hold her ground believing in her abilities. Poised and willing to grow, she learned from the cliffs around her to be confident and decisive while learning from the wild grass to flexible and move with the wind. As the ocean breeze blows through her hair and the waves embrace her feet, she reflects on the end of another day and she takes pride in trusting herself.

Original Piece Size: 14”x20”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

One Hundred Years

(Featured in Solo Show Terra Human June 2022) This painting explores a single moment expanded over a century . This woman has searched far and wide to find the perfect natural setting for her to sit and search for answers to her deepest questions. In her first few years sitting in this exact spot, she learns about herself, thinking about her uniqueness as an individual and coping with and later resolving past traumas that she let define her for so many years. 

While sitting a little longer, she is able to open her mind beyond herself, recognizing the people that she has hurt and the people she has loved, forgiving herself for past mistakes and accepting who she is at her core. After this step she begins to feel every rock and every blade of grass that surrounds her as they begin to grow up her form and embrace her stillness. After several more years of sitting she begins to feel the presences of every single life form around her. Every insect, bird, mouse and rabbit emits a pulse of life that gives her energy and a sense of belonging. After many more years, the concept of time begins to lose its meaning and the straight line from beginning to end starts to connect end to end forming a circle. After sitting for 100 years her past and future fade away and she finds the moment.

herself.Original Piece Size: 10”x15”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Interconnection

The world contained within this painting shows us blending seamlessly with the environments that we love. Every memory, emotion and thought that is contained within us is interwoven with those of the earth to create a single beauty. The immense highs and lows in our lives directly mimic the mountains and valleys in a way that shows the earth understands us to the core. The mountains listen to our thoughts and feelings while the stars comprehend our dreams and aspirations. The trees plants and animals grow and live for decades only to lose their lives and begin again in another form.
As a viewer we are allowed only a momentary glance at this world through a window so that we may contemplate our existence and what we wish to do with our time.

Original Piece Size: 24”x18”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Through the Leaves

*SOLD* This painting shows a trapped man. Ever since he was born into the color of his skin he has only been seen in this way. We choose see him through the leaves, broken, unfinished, and most of all unlike us. We only see him in these leaves as a way to control him rather than trying to understand him. As a society we refuse to see this person and people who look like him in a different light and recognize that all people are complex and multifaceted individuals. Like all of us this man is striving to find success and meaning in his life but he lives in a world that feels the need to put him into a specific box. Even though he is a kind, sensitive and compassionate individual his intent is assumed to be malicious and selfish and so everyday he feels the need be extra accommodating to those who are threatened by him. As he looks out through the leaves he finds a world that is fearful of him and ready to challenge his every move due to the color of his skin rather than the content of his character. He sees a world that is ripe with opportunity for others but these opportunities have conditions and requirements that shut him out.
This man is looking us straight in the eyes and asking us to be better. He is asking to be set free from these leaves so that he can live a life untethered from where we put him.

Original Piece Size: 12”x9”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

The Lost Traveler

This piece illustrates a man who has been searching for himself. It has taken him so long to get where his is right now and yet has a long way to go from here. He wishes to better himself through self discovery but the road has left him lost and exhausted. But what he doesn’t realize is that he is already learning and changing more than he realizes. His body is staring to crumble and break down to eventually be reformed stronger than before. And the plants and trees are beginning to see him for who he truly is and feel comfortable growing with him and nurturing his heart. After a long night of rest, the morning sunlight is touching the distant peaks soon to awaken this traveler to a new day of opportunity. 

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

The Giver

*SOLD* This piece is an ode to those who strive to do good in this world. The people who despite the darkness surrounding them emit a light of empathy, kindness and understanding that inspires others. These people are the helpers, listeners, watchers and hard workers who always seek to help the world even in the most microscopic of moments or gestures and never ask for anything in return. The heart of a giver is one that should be cherished.

Original Piece Size: 7”x11”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Creator and Creation

This piece illustrates the innate connection we all have with the natural world that created us. The incredible nature that surrounds us serves many purposes and one of which is the way in which it encourages us to look inward and recalibrate our identity. Often times our fast paced lifestyle causes us to lose sight of who we are and replaces our empathy with malice and judgment that distances us from others and ourselves. Our primal brains are still catching up with the ever changing lives that we live, which are filled with social media, technology and an overwhelming amount of complicated people. 

But when we are able to step out of the day to day chaos and immerse ourselves in the nature that created us we connect with our surroundings and tap into our primal nature. This innate connection we have with nature can help us reestablish what we value in our lives and it can help us grow as individuals to then better serve others.

Original Piece Size: 7”x11”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

This painting is available to purchase through Abend Gallery. Click the button below to view it on their website!

A Moment of Acceptance

*SOLD* This piece serves as a reminder of the importance of our self image. How we think of and speak to ourselves greatly influences our mental health and mental well-being and unfortunately we can be our own biggest critics. But if we can choose to give ourselves the grace and patience that we give others we will find ourselves in a healthier mental state. Like many of us, the person in this painting sometimes asks too much of herself and can’t help but speak words of negativity in order to push herself. But these words can do more harm that we know, degrading our self worth and leaving us unbalanced. The moment in this painting is a moment of realization. A moment in which we see ourselves for all of our strengths and weaknesses and decide to give ourselves the grace that we need to stay healthy and balanced.

Original Piece Size: 7”x11”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Flowers and Thorns

*SOLD* This piece is a tribute to my love for beauty, in all of its forms.Ever since I can remember, I have sought after beauty. Whether I was admiring a landscape, performing a dance, or painting a picture, my motive has always been to find things that are awe-inspiring and share them.
In a way I think that my search for beauty is my filter for the world and how I perceive it. As I’ve gotten older, I’m realizing that it is almost impossible to perceive something without any sort of bias and since childhood I have always perceived the world as inherently beautiful in its imperfection.
This brings me to the painting you see before you. For all of my life, I have had no issue with saying when I found someone attractive—no matter their gender. I wanted to paint this man because his face tells a story. I feel that his eyes seem to capture an interesting combination of sadness and optimism. He is intertwined with weeds, thorns, flowers, and grass to show that beauty can be found in unexpected places if you are prepared to look.
I believe that beauty can inspire good in the world and the more beauty we can learn to see the better our world will become.

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Walking Giants

This painting addresses the concept of humility. There is so much that we can obtain and achieve in our lives that it’s easy to forget the vastness of space and time as well as our small part in this infinite world.  We are seen in this painting traversing this world with true humility and a willingness to learn. As we walk we take care not to crush even the smallest plants and animals because we understand that all life plays an important role on this planet. As the luminous sunrise bathes the surrounding cliff edges with color and warmth we are reminded of the seemingly infinite amount of time this planet has been alive and changing. And we start to understand that our time here is short yet meaningful and there is much good that we can do if we walk tall and care for those who are both bigger and smaller than us.

Recipient of the Peoples Choice Award in the “Influences” Group art show

Original Piece Size: 24”x36”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Missing Pieces

*SOLD* This painting is about the loneliness that we many of us are feeling during these uncertain times. Our normal interactions with friends and family have been reduced and modified and this has affected our emotional wellbeing more that we realize. Some of us may be experiencing heightened anxiety or depression that make us want to retreat away from other people even more than usual. We all cope with times of stress differently and that’s alright as long as we understand that deserve the love that is in our lives and that things will get better eventually.

The woman in this piece has retreated away from people but she finds comfort in the nature that surrounds her. Visually the branches almost support the shapes and curves of her face, keeping her head up in a time of sadness. She has blended into her surroundings so that they may fill in her missing pieces and make her whole again. 

Original Piece Size: 9”x12”

Medium: Oil on Gessobord (Framed)

Hidden Meadow

This painting is about the places we go in times of distress in order to find peace and reassurance. These imaginary worlds can be made up of memories, images and emotions that bring us joy and comfort when we need it the most. We all have these types of locations in our memory and we retreat to them when the outside world can be too much for us to handle and we need to sit with our thoughts and emotions. This painting illustrates what it looks like when we travel to this perfect spot in our mind, fall down into the soft trees and rest our eyes. Our bodies become one with our surroundings and the plants and animals grow and live in harmony with us without fear. We blend into the environment that we hold so dear to our heart and find a rejuvenated strength underneath the mountains. This strength allows us to stand back up despite the fear that is waiting for us on the other side and depart this comforting world with a level head and an accepting heart. 

Available for $1800.00

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Imprint

This piece expresses how an environment can leave a lasting impact on us, bonding with us on a spiritual level in a way that allows us to learn something new about ourselves. We often strongly identify with our surroundings growing up and this can influence what places bring us the most joy and introspection later in life. But we can also find a deep appreciate for new environments where significant moments take place. There are times when every aspect of a moment is perfect and this amount of bliss creates a strong tie to what surrounds you. Everything from what you see, to what you smell, to what you touch gets imprinted into your memory and this place is now a part of who you are. This location has now been saturated with incredibly strong emotions and it is almost impossible to separate the two. The joy you feel when you remember a perfect moment in a perfect place is almost intoxicating and it inspires you to explore and seek out more moments of bliss and perfection.

Available for $500.00

Original Piece Size: 11”x14”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Between Light and Shadow

The concept of this painting is strongly linked into the techniques I employed to create it. The biggest hurdle I needed to overcome in this particular piece was how to properly observe and render this figure which has so many complex and nuanced shadows. And when I identified this issue I couldn’t help but see the parallel to the shadows in our lives. It is no secret that many of us feel shaded by experiences in our lives that we just cannot seem to brighten. These experiences may even define us for a certain amount of time and control our behaviors because they affected us so deeply. I even felt this way when I started painting the figure’s face and couldn’t seem to see any end in sight. I felt a bit lost in these darker values and couldn’t see the distinct differences between colors. It seemed like colors and values were getting muddled in the shadows making me think there was no beginning or end to my brush strokes.
But as I progressed with this painting and persevered to give it a chance to develop I started to discover that with time and effort these shadows presented rare opportunities. I began to see the subtle colors that can be found in shadows because of reflected light. I started to understand that theses shadows created an amazing contrast that made the highlights even brighter. The figure I was painting was no longer defined by the shadows that used to haunt her rather now her character was enhanced and clarified by the this darkness. The shadows now seemed to server as a backdrop for all of the light that is embracing her.
We all experience shadowing in our lives but as we grow we learn to create our own definitions of ourselves and we can choose the path that allow us to see the most light.

Featured in the Surrealism Issue of Marvelous Art Magazine

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Hidden Away

This piece deals with our reactions to stress and anxiety. The person in this piece has a tendency to respond to stresses in his life by pulling away and blending into his surroundings. He hopes that if he is invisible his problems won’t find him and he can take comfort by retreating into himself. As he blends further and further into the environments that surrounds him he starts to lose sight of his priorities and the traits that define him as a person.
By retreating like this he cuts himself off from others and the ways in which they can help him. In his brain he sees asking for help as a weakness and thinks his problems will only hurt the people closest to him. While he is pulling away from others his gaze narrows and he sees less and less of the big picture and only focuses on himself and the fact that he is stuck.
There are not right or wrong ways to deal with stress in our lives but the more we can let people into our realities they better they will understand us and how we process our issues.

Original Piece Size: 12”x16”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

EVE

*SOLD* This painting is about our childhood. In our youth we had visceral and raw experiences with our natural world that gave us an appreciation for our surroundings and a humility for their potential. The oceans we swam in, the forests we gazed at and the mountains we climbed all gifted us with an emotional imprint that will be stored in our hearts for the rest of our lives. And it is because we were young that we experienced these environments with such intensity. Our responsibilities were minimal, our thoughts were naive and our imaginations ran wild. We were small and new to the world so we moved through it with a curious spirit that encouraged us to explore and live in the moment. This childlike spirit is not lost though, it visits us whenever we go into nature and lose ourselves in its impossible beauty and power. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable in this world and fully experience the environment that surrounds us we rekindle this playful spirit and allow it to walk along side us through a world that needs understanding and compassion more than ever.

Featured in the Surrealism Issue of Marvelous Art Magazine

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Unguarded

*SOLD* This piece depicts a man transitioning from who he was to who he wants to become. He was hardened by his upbringing in order to make him brave and emotionless so that he could weather any challenge and conquer any odds, but this had a cost. In order to become a fearless warrior this man learned not to feel. He suppressed his emotions, he ignored pain, and he refused to let down his guard in fear of compromising his masculine persona. He was told over and over again that this world was harsh and unforgiving so he needed to mimic these traits in order to get ahead. Eventually he reached a breaking point because of the daily pressures he felt from his family, friends, and the society that surrounded him. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, and mundane tasks caused him immense stress and worry. This piece illustrates the tipping point where he starts to explore a mindset of vulnerability and self care. The man in this piece is allowing himself to be flawed and broken so that he can reach out for help for the first time. Taking deep breaths he melds into the landscape around him and finally embraces the vulnerability that he avoided for so long. He starts to understand that being a warrior does not mean he needs to be so strong that he doesn’t feel rather it means that he needs to be strong enough to feel. Its natural for him to make mistakes, ask for help and feel sad at times. This is the beginning of his new journey towards self reflection and self worth

Original Piece Size: 9”x12”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Uncovered Voice

This piece seeks to illustrate the concept of viewpoint. We all view this world through our own unique filter that makes us who we are. We cannot help but view our surroundings through a window made up of our thoughts, hopes, fears, biases and beliefs. And each of our personal interpretations of the world deserves to be heard. We all encounter a form of doubt that tells you that our voices shouldn’t be heard and that our window is not as meaningful as someone else’s. And it is in these moments that we need to look inside ourselves and uncover the confidence to make our voice loud and clear. When you choose to speak your truth it not only adds meaning to your life but it encourages others to do so as well. The window through which you view the world is powerful.

Original Piece Size: 24”x36”

Medium: Oil on Canvas

As One

*SOLD* In this piece humans and nature breath as one. The divisions that we have insisted on for generations have evaporated and we finally see ourselves reflected in the natural world that surrounds us. Plants, trees and moss start to grow with her body as her hands reach into the earth with humility and understanding. The curves and angles of her limbs are reflected in the surrounding landscape showing the balance we can achieve when we listen and reflect. As she sleeps her breath soars with the birds in the sky while her heartbeat synchronizes with the core of the earth.

Original Piece Size: 24”x48”

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Seeking Balance

This piece showcases the therapeutic benefits of our natural surroundings. When we create a relationship with our environment we will start to find new perspectives that will shift how we see ourselves in the world. These new perspectives encourage humility and self love in a way that balances our soul. The majestic mountains and fiery sunset in this piece humble our figure by showing her her small role in the grand intricacies of the universe. But they also tell her that her identity is worth exploring and understanding as an individual. Our search to find balance between self and universality is a lifelong journey that can inspire us to grow and find internal peace.

Available for $850.00

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Between Worlds

This piece expresses a specific perception that I have had since childhood. An instinctive understanding that the human world and the natural world are not separate but a single organism that lives and breathes as one. A sense that our connection with nature is universal and powerful. When I was younger my siblings and I were obsessed with spending our time in nature whether we were in our backyard, at the the beach or on a hike. And we always considered ourselves a part of our surroundings, no more special or powerful than the trees that we climbed or the grass we walked on. We chose to live between the comforts of the human world and the harshness of the natural world because we didn’t see these worlds as separate or combative. Through our experiences with the Hawaiian culture and our appreciation for our surroundings we understood our connection with nature and learned to respect the environment that brought us so much joy. The man in this painting is blended with nature not because of his power or domination but because of his humility and understanding of his place in the world.

Available for $700.00

Original Piece Size: 16”x20”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Unspoken

*SOLD* This piece illustrates what it was like growing up as a shy child who always seemed in-between worlds. Present and listening to others but never asserting himself in order to learn and see the true colors of those who surrounded him. His shyness taught him the value of words and how just a few can have the most power when used properly.

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Rise and Fall

*SOLD* This piece is about facing challenges. We all have difficulties in our everyday life that can rob us of positivity and leave us with little hope for improvement. And at the end of each day our personal challenges can leave us exhausted and drained and yet we find the courage to wake up every morning to try again. 
Every person on this planet has seemingly microscopic battles that they fight every day in order to live the life they love. We are all facing hardships in our own ways and knowing this can make us more accepting and understanding of others.

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Interior

This piece explores the concept of our internal self, what is inside us and how we present it to the world. When I paint I experience the pleasure and curse of being alone with my own thoughts and through this I have started to understand how I function and how I perceive the world around me.

I personally think that when you allow your own thoughts to come and go you can better understand how you think and what you think and you can start to see the true thoughts and feelings that make you who you are. And when we do this we can start to let go of the preconceptions and biases that distort our vision of others.

Available for $500.00

Original Piece Size: 18”x24”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Undefined

*SOLD* This piece brings a visualization of our tendency to categorize each other. At some point we have all suffered at the hands of someone who labels us and refuses to understand that we are more than a single characteristic. And this makes us feel misunderstood and judged as something that is not worth further examination. We all seek to be understood for all of our subtle complexities and differences but we sometimes don’t give the time and patience to others. Even if we only interact with someone for a short moment they deserve our understanding that a whole universe of thoughts, emotions, memories and dreams lives in them and it is impossible for us to define them.

While it is in our nature to group people for the sake of efficiency we owe it to ourselves and to others to allow every multifaceted person in our lives to shine with their infinite complexities. 

Available for $200.00

Original Piece Size: 9”x12”

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Sight Unobstructed

*SOLD* This piece explores the concept of an uninhibited imagination and the willingness to fulfill a vision. Growing up my sister and I had what some would call an over-active imagination that kept us occupied with fairies, dinosaurs and talking trees in our backyard for hours. The overactive jungle hat was our backyard served as a dynamic environment that inspired our minds to create and wonder. But in other environments my imagination would get me into trouble like while I was supposed to be paying attention in class my mind was in the body of a super hero that was flying high above my school.

I feel that childhood imagination is very important and I am greatly appreciative of my parents for allowing me to let my mind roam. Now as an adult I find it more difficult to enter into this imaginative headspace when I have responsibilities and stresses weighing me down. But when I sit down to paint, I can feel my mind cut free of those weights as it begins to enter into the world that I began creating so long ago. When I’m creating a painting I tend to think about the inspiring environments that I have experienced in my life so far and they relate to me and my emotions.

I believe that it is important for me as an artist to not only explore my own imagination but to then find a way to bring a piece of my world to yours. 

Original Piece Size: 24”x36”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Winter Solstice

*SOLD*This piece celebrates the concept of rebirth and self-reflection. When the longest bout of darkness falls upon us we at once start the journey back to the light. We all deserve a chance to reflect on ourselves and evaluate who am I? Where am I going? And how do I want to live? This painting serves as a reminder of the opportunity that we all have to grow and change our lives for the better.

Original Piece Size: 14”x32”

Medium: Oil on Panel

Surroundings

*SOLD* This piece explores our identity through our surroundings. Many of us don’t realize how much we are influenced by our environment and it’s contribution to our identity. This piece features the flatirons in Boulder Colorado, a very iconic and recognizable symbol of the city that expresses themes such as adventure, a connection with nature and an appreciation for the environment. When we live in an specific place long enough, that place influences our mentality and outlook on life. And the same can be said for the people who surround us. Our human connections are a component of our environment so it can be beneficial to evaluate if those relationships are creating a positive environment that allows for growth or a negative one that holds us back. Our surroundings do not define us, but they do influence us. I personally always strive to live in a place that not only brings me joy but also challenges me and encourages me to grow in the best version of myself.

Original Piece Size: 12"x16"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Mirror

*SOLD* This piece is my 30th Terra Human painting! Due to work and life, many of us have trouble experiencing nature in a way that is best for us and this is why I love creating my Terra Human paintings. I love creating these dream-like images that illustrate a literal relationship between humans and nature in a way that prompts tranquility and self reflection. I hope that my Terra Human paintings can serve as mirrors to those of us who may feel separated from our true selves, a reminder that your truth has value, your identity has worth and our world is a better place because you are in it.

Available for $300.00

Original Piece Size: 12"x16"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Treacherous Path

This piece embodies the concept of our personal path. Sooner or later we are all presented with a treacherous path that is filled with risks, obstacles and rejections. But we also understand that this is the only path that lets us live as our true selves. It seems to me that truth and struggle seem to go hand in hand and it is up to us to decide how much struggling we can take in order to get to the truth of who we are. There is another path though, and if we choose it we choose to live a small part of our true identity and travel on a more comfortable road with minimal risk and minimal reward. This path allows us to hide our identity so that we are agreeable to others and we fit into other people’s expectations. But when we live as our true self we are choosing the treacherous path that is riddled with hate and love, success and failure but every step is our own and no one can that away from us.

Available for $250.00

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel

When We Fall

This piece addresses my personal fear of losing progress and falling backwards. I'm the type of person who is always trying to improve and move forward in all aspects of my life and I have trouble accepting that sometimes we regress and fall from our progress. I really want to work on being okay with setbacks and learning from them so that I can approach new challenges with wisdom and grit. And this issue is by no means solved by creating a painting about it, but it can be very therapeutic to pour a concept into a piece and contemplate it during the creation process.

To me the waterfall flowing down this figure’s back symbolizes the constant potential to fall and how our ability to fail makes us human.

Available for $300.00

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Sequence

*SOLD* This piece explores the patterns and rhythms found in nature and how they influence us and our behaviors. From the daily change of the tides to the yearly change of seasons much of how we see our world is influenced by the sequences that govern it. The patterns in nature can be reassuring in their consistency but this makes them all the more harsh when there is an unusual change that interrupts the patter. But luckily the natural world seems to find a way to balance itself and seek it’s normal rhythm. 

Just like patterns found in nature we as humans also have sequences that shape our behavior and guide us through the chaotic world. Our habits, practices and normalities can give us solace and ground our emotions. In many ways the habits that we develop define us and shape how we view ourselves and the world around us.

Original Piece Size: 12"x12"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Surrender

*SOLD*This piece shows our surrender. We spend so much of our lives fighting the things that can bring us true happiness. We fight our our identity, we fight our passions and in a way we fight who we are. This paintings illustrates the end of this fight and the moment that we give into truth and vulnerability. This is not a moment of weakness rather it is a moment of self acceptance and a search for truth within yourself. Let go of your ego, let go of other’s opinions and let go of the fight within yourself so that you can start to see clearly and begin the journey to your true self.

Original Piece Size: 16"x20"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

To Be Seen

This piece attempt to bring a visual to the concept of being seen for all that you are and all you can be. Every human can be seen  and understood in an infinite amount of perspectives and we only see a fraction of who we truly are and what we can become. What if we could all see each other for who we truly are? The good and the bad that makes us a complete human.

Available for $400.00

Original Piece Size: 18"x24"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Lost Island

*SOLD* This piece calls upon the feeling I had growing up on a small island in the middle of the ocean. The feeling of isolation while growing up on Maui wavered between maddening and comforting at times but I always had an underlying appreciation for this unique home. The unbelievable clarity of the stars at night was doubly amazing in knowing that our small towns didn’t create enough artificial light to block them out. The vast ocean that surrounded us could make us feel separated be we chose to see how it connected us to those in the distance. In my younger years I thought that everyone lived on different islands around the world I saw each enormous continent as another island surrounded by water. And in a way I was right, nothing should separate us from the simple and humble island lifestyle of appreciating your home small and it’s place in the vast world.

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Dusk

*SOLD*This painting  honors the amazing natural world that surrounds us and our connection with it. The rising and setting of the sun is a small part of the large cycle of nature just as us humans are a microscopic component of a much larger organism. And yet we can always find beauty and appreciation for tiny moments that bring us fulfillment and a love for life.

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Fundamental Seclusion

This piece explores the mind of an introvert and brings beauty to the idea of aloneness. We all need need time to ourselves in different amounts and this time can allow us to find a center that will guide us when we navigate the surrounding world.

I personally think there is a certain beauty to a person who is comfortable enough in themselves to enjoy their seclusion and not feel the need to be stimulated by others.

Available for $250.00

Original Piece Size: 11"x14" 

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Fragmentation

*SOLD* This piece melds a several of my favorite styles with my “Terra Human” subject matter. My aim in creating this pieces was to utilize a linear and geometric style and a rough textured looseness to surround and immerse the figure and trees. 

This figure along with the surrounding nature is fragmented. Broken up and separated into pieces that fit in some areas but don’t make her a cohesive image.  Our external world demands this of us at times. It asks us to be a certain type of person and act a certain way to fit the circumstances of a situation even if that isn’t who we are or how we see ourselves. The situation turns a part of our personality into a puzzle piece that fits into this particular set of circumstances but doesn’t fit into our picture of our identity. 

It can be difficult to stay consistent with our personality and stay true to our complete image because this can sometimes separate your from others and make you feel different and unaccommodating. But if you commit to keeping your puzzle pieces unchanged by others you will come closer and closer to the people you are supposed to be with who see you and your complete self and love you for it.

Original Piece Size: 11"x14"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Heightened Sensitivity 

I have many people in my life who feel and experience the world with much more intensity than the average person. These people are in my life because I share this quality and I am attracted to it and the highs and lows it brings us. I never want to be numb to life rather I hope to experience the good and bad life throws me with open arms.

I feel that many artist have a heightened sensitivity in their senses and emotions. Artists seem to experience things on a raw emotional level that almost makes them obligated to create.

Original Piece Size: 14"x18"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Ashes

This piece utilizes a reference of the burn scar near Los Alamos, New Mexico. Just like this landscape, we all have scars and they affect us all differently. These scars can come from people or experiences or even our own emotions and we carry them with us through life. And I personally feel that it is okay that we have scars, they contribute to who we are and how we interact with others. Our scars make us unique and sometimes bring us inspiration or motivation. But I also feel it is important that we don’t let our scars define us and dictate our lives. We cannot turn back time and remove what caused the scar but we can choose how it influences us now. We have all been hurt but we still deserve love.

Available for $200.00

Original Piece Size: 11"x14" 

Medium: Oil on Canvas (Framed)

Sensitive

This piece directly addresses a human quality that is very dear to my heart. Male sensitivity is in my opinion an incredibly important quality that I hope we can allow and encourage. Growing up I was a very sensitive boy and for a large part of my childhood I thought this was a negative quality that made me different. Many boys around me thought it was silly to empathize with others or cry because they were taught that these things showed weakness. For me my art was a safe place were I could feel emotions and experience things on a deep level without consequences. Art allowed me to observe and feel things with intensity and passion.

As I am getting older I am realizing how crucial sensitivity in men really is. It allows us to be aware of our emotions and give them names. It allows us to have complex thoughts that don’t lead to rash decision making. I am trying to be more open with my feelings especially around other men so that they can feel free to embrace their own sensitivity and understand that emotional vulnerability is not a weakness it is a strength.

Available for $175.00

Original Piece Size: 9"x12"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Unintentional

*SOLD* In this piece I am reflecting on my own relationship with masculinity. Growing up I was never overtly aware of the societal expectation to be manly, instead I lived in my own little world where anything that I did or said was not masculine or feminine but just a part of me. I feel that I possess many masculine and feminine qualities and I attribute this to a unique and accepting childhood that allowed me to be myself and grow into a true individual.
I encourage you to allow yourself to explore your personal identity and allow others to so the same because I find that once you are at peace with yourself you will be more accepting of others.

Original Piece Size: 12"x12"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Solace

*SOLD*  "Solace" illustrates our inherent need for comfort and reassurance when the turbulence of life is too much. The beautiful yet unforgiving landscape that surrounds this figure represents this turbulence and how important it is for us to seek help when we need it. We are not defined by our struggles rather we are defined by how we react to them.

Original Piece Size: 8"x10"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Terra

*SOLD*This piece displays comfort and intimacy with nature. I was a very tactile child growing up, I always found myself climbing trees, creating forts in bushes and wandering in tall grass in the outskirts of our yard. I built a relationship with my surroundings and really enjoyed the sensation of feeling familiar plants in my hands that brought up memories and happy thoughts. This piece brings a visual to this tactile relationship in a way that shows vulnerability, thoughtfulness and care for the nature that surrounds us.

Original Piece Size: 10"x8"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Purification

*SOLD*  This is a piece about revitalization and renewed energy. In the natural world I see rain as one of the most symbolic purifiers. It seems to bring continuity to even the most diverse environments by affecting everything in someway.  Growing up I always felt that the rain washed away complications in my life because it brought my attention to the many things that were out of my control.  In life I feel it can be beneficial to identify the things that revitalize us and bring us energy so that we can seek those things in difficult times.

Original Piece Size: 9"x12"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Listen

*SOLD*  Listening is one of the most powerful tools we posses as humans. It is a key aspect of how we communicate and understand each other. When we truly listen to ourselves and to others our hearts open up, our biases fall away and we connect. Human are infinitely complex in our thoughts, emotions and behaviors so we owe it to each other to seek understanding rather than conflict. And the art of listening can extend beyond humanity because the beautiful nature that surrounds us has an important voice as well and we can learn a great deal if we open our ears. When we choose to look outside of ourselves and truly understand another life we begin to see the beauty of humanity.

Original Piece Size: 14"x11"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Remains

*SOLD*  This piece address the mortality of humanity and brings to question what we will leave behind. Our existence is a small spec in the grand picture of time and space and we sometimes loose sight of this fact. Our time is borrowed and our connection to nature is deep and meaningful therefore it is important that we treat it with respect and love.                How do you perceive the natural world?                                                                                                       What makes you feel small?

Original Piece Size: 24"x18"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Protected

This piece examines what protects us and what makes us feel safe and loved. So many people in our modern world are so focused on taking care of themselves that they forget the value of being vulnerable with another person. Often our first feeling of protection comes from our parents or mentors when we are young. These people are superheroes in our eyes and we want to think that nothing can harm them. But as we get older we realize that sometimes we need to protect our superheroes from the difficult world that we inhabit and help them remember the hope that once inspire them.

On Sale for $500.00

Original Piece Size: 18"x24"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Depth of Hope

This piece illustrates our inner hope. The light within us that keeps us going when everything arounds us darkens and creates doubt, fear and disappointment. There will be many times when people close to you such as friends and family may even be the source of this darkness but it is up to you to find your inner light of hope that is buried underneath your fears and insecurities.

Available for $400.00

Original Piece Size: 20"x16"

Medium: Oil on Panel (Framed)

Hidden

*SOLD*  This is a piece about seeking refuge. The complexities of life and existence can sometimes be too much and we feel the need to separate ourselves and look inward. We are not cowards when we hide, it always us to simplify our decisions and see clearly. When we embrace nature with sensitivity and vulnerability we feel protected and loved.

Original Piece Size: 18"x18"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Disappearance

*SOLD*  This piece deals with emotional trauma. Many of us feel an emptiness take over our existence for sometime after a traumatic experience. We can feel our identity fading away and it can make day to day life even more of a struggle. But when we open our eyes and our heats we can see that help is never too far away.

Original Piece Size: 20"x16"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

The Search

This piece deals with the act of searching. As humans it is our natural instinct to search whether it is for love, power, renown, knowledge or meaning. There is an excess of external stimuli in our modern society so it is tempting to look for these things outside ourselves. We will blindly look anywhere but inside ourselves for meaning in our lives. Many of us search for other things to help define ourselves in this way we try to piece together an identity rather than listening to our true thoughts.

Available for $250.00

Original Piece Size: 24"x36"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Shelters Built on Men

This painting has many sources of inspiration and the shared theme deals with our society's perception and expectation of masculinity. As boys grow into men there are many burdens and weights placed upon their shoulders and they are expected to rise to the occasion without hesitation. 

Available for $1000.00

Original Piece Size: 40"x30"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Terra Firma

This piece celebrates the strength of women and their amazing capacity to empathize, nurture and love. Much like fertile soil, women who are compassionate and loving  grow beauty within and around them thus adding life to our world.

Available for $900.00

Original Piece Size: 36"x24"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Vulnerability

(Original unavailable) This piece explores the human ability to let go and be vulnerable with nature and allow it to comfort us and give us energy. The natural world exists with it's own ebb and flow and it can be beneficial for us to observe and learn from it.

Original Piece Size:  24"x36"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Cloaked

(Original unavailable) This piece illustrates humanities connection to nature and how it is engrained into our identity. Our separation from nature is only as big as we make it.

Original Piece Size:  24"x30"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Never Alone

*SOLD* This piece explores the comfort one can feel when surrounded by nature in times of despair and turmoil. Raw emotional reactions to nature can feed the soul and heal the heart.

Original Piece Size:  12"x12"

Medium: Oil on Panel

Mother Nature

(Original unavailable)This was a significant piece in my conceptual merging of humans and landscapes because of its balance of the representational and non-representational. The landscape breathes in and out of the abstract world allowing for emotion to exist at the forefront. 

Original Piece Size: 24"x24"

Medium: Oil on Panels (4)