Wonderland Series

          Imagination is my key to unlocking the closed door of reality. It leads me on a journey that allows for my escape into new frontiers that only I can create and control, taking me away from the sometimes harsh realities of this world if only for a little while. So often the world seems such a negative and cruel place with tragic stories of war, violence, and disease that make life seem hopeless. But the concept of imagination, the idea that our little minds are actually not so little at all but vast infinities that can create new ideas and possibilities, give me hope not just for myself, but humanity.

          One of my most favorite means of escape is through literature. Reading allows my mind to wonder into new worlds while meeting diverse characters, yet it seems the best stories, my favorite stories, are ones that I can relate to in some way, ones that I have a deeper, emotional connection to.

        I feel that my current series of work resembles Alice in Wonderland. My heroine stumbles into these whimsical worlds, encountering unfamiliar terrain and unusual obstacles following not a white rabbit, but her own curiosity. I like to think she goes forth on a peculiar journey of identity (as anyone can whilst reading), yet in this wonderland the only other character is the landscape. I wanted to focus more on where my imagination leads me within these landscapes. My inspiration for them comes from the natural world, where I see organic shapes, colors, and nonconformities. This leads me to create these abstract drawings which I then digitally paint to form more complex landscapes, and upon rendering my heroine, I digitally manipulate her coloring in order for her to better blend with her surroundings. Together, they help create my story and express my ideas.

        Literature takes on a huge role in my work and is often the core of my inspiration. Stories like Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, and even Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have such complex worlds and characters that not only bewilder my mind in complexity but allow me to think differently or more openly. These authors, along with artists like surrealist photographers, Vincent Bourlihon and Joel Robison, inspire me to push my work to new heights through experimentation and discovery.

        What I want my viewers to take from my work is the importance of imagination. Without the belief in the impossible, without imagination, life would be boring and far too serious. I think people often dismiss imagination because it can be seen as silly or child-like, but our imagination is infinite and powerful. I believe we hold the key to forming a better future already and reality does not have to hold us back. I not only want my viewers to see where my imagination has taken me, but to challenge and encourage them to see where their imagination can lead them.