ARTIST STATEMENT

What is a portrait? Years ago, I first thought a portrait was nothing more than a boring headshot of a person. A row of photographs identifying a chain of command, doctor profiles, or a simplistic photograph of oneself for family walls. Nothing spectacular or special, just something nice to give to the grandparents.  Over time my opinion has changed, even on the basic “traditional” portrait.

I try to capture the personality of my subject.  I want them to see themselves and not someone fake.  My hope is that they see the beauty I see in them.  Sometimes it isn’t even about capturing their personality but waiting for that second when they become vulnerable and let you peak inside their sole and see their reality.   

When I look at a portrait now, I see more than just a boring image. Now I see the depth of a person, someone I want to get to know more.  A moment captured in time.  A chance to look back at growth and change.  Portraits of my family leave me longing to tell their stories.  To create a place for them to time travel in their memories aided by photographs and antidotes to tell their children and grandchildren about.