Communication has always been a central focus of my artwork and printmaking practice. I seek to communicate with viewers in a creative and visual way. Continuing to grow as both an artist and an effective educator remains a primary goal of my career.
I approach my artwork through both content and form. Many of my prints and drawings have become increasingly esoteric; however, the intention is not to confuse the viewer, but rather to draw them into the work and encourage them to question the possible connotations within each piece. In many cases, one form relates to another, much like the way information is acquired, generated, and manipulated today through the internet.
A significant portion of my work centers on a constant search for humanity—both within myself and in others. I closely examine how technology, along with specific language and visual systems, may impact us in the future, including the complexities and ambiguities that affect both society and individuals. I question how transitions will be made and what the cost of those choices may be.
In my work, form is directly connected to message and content. I often use form in a narrative way, which allows viewers to engage using familiar visual cues. This remains important even within more abstract work, as it enables the viewer to assemble the visual elements much like a puzzle or a mathematical problem. Printmakers who have influenced both my process and content include Warrington Colescott, Rudy Pozzatti, and Robert Cottingham.
One of the most exciting aspects of my practice as an artist and printmaker is the process of creating a print. I am fascinated by problem-solving and by working through various processes that allow for exploration and experimentation. My work incorporates both traditional techniques and new combinations of processes, including lithography, screen printing (water and oil-based), intaglio, relief, calligraphy, and digital/photographic methods. Many of my pieces utilize multiple processes; a single print may go through several techniques before coming to fruition.
Ultimately, the goal of my work is to communicate and to continually build and extend my visual language. I hope to share the attitudes, histories, beliefs, dreams, and desires that I have been fortunate enough to encounter through others. In the end, it is the fundamental need to communicate and elicit a response from someone I may never meet that drives my work.
I was born on October 14, 1964, in Goshen, Indiana, and discovered at an early age that I had a strong propensity for creating artwork. In 1985, I attended Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I worked to develop a strong foundation in design. In 1988, I returned to Indiana University South Bend to complete my Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1998, I earned my Master of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota.
Following the completion of my MFA, I taught at the University of Nebraska at Kearney from 1998 to 1999 in Kearney, Nebraska. I then went on to teach at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, from 1999 to 2002. Since 2002, I have been teaching at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina, where I continue to work today. I also maintain a studio practice in Florence, South Carolina.
