Artist Statement
I employ bold line-work, enhanced exaggerated color and pattern in my paintings in an attempt to reach something beyond outward appearances—the supra-real presence of things. History & memory are important ideas that I negotiate with in my work. Objects, faces and sacred story are all subjects that I seek to translate in this way.
My most recent works pair objects with pattern. The objects in these compositions are memory keys. By re-engaging with the relics & artifacts of the past, I am recognizing and elevating these items to icons of history and memory. The patterns of fabric swatches—many of which were woven right here in the cotton mills of Rock Hill, SC—possess a dual meaning. Being made up of various separate threads, yet coming together to create a solid beautiful object—the fabrics act as a metaphor of our shared human experience in community and the comfort of being known.
My Recent Work
![Specimen NC 1553 | Syrphid Fly](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/SyphidFly_sm-510x382.png)
![A Christmas Carol Series | Ghost of Christmas Past](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Ghost-of-Christmas-Past_S-Kennedy-Irwin_sm-510x382.jpg)
![A Christmas Carol Series | Scrooge](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Scrooge_sm1-510x382.jpg)
![Specimen NC 264 | Tiger Moth](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Tiger-Moth-510x382.png)
![Specimen NC 161 | Click Beetle](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Click-beetle-510x382.png)
![Specimen NC 2269 | Hunter Ground Beetle](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_0817-1-510x382.png)
![Specimen NC 1554 | Bumble Bee](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IMG_0816-510x382.png)
![Dogwood Blossoms](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Dogwoods-510x382.png)
![Cacti & Coffee](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cacti-coffee-510x382.png)
![TRANSLUCENT SERIES Gilded Vessels](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Gilded-Vessels_sm-510x382.jpg)
![Chair #3](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/chair-3_sm-510x382.jpg)
![TRANSLUCENT SERIES | Silver Plate & Green Glass](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Transluscent-Reflective-Series_Silver-Plate-Green-Glass-510x382.jpg)
![Specimen NC 799 | Peacock Butterfly](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Peacock-Butterfly-NC799-510x382.png)
![Chair Series | #2](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/IMG_9264_sm-510x382.jpg)
![Chair Series | #1](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/IMG_9271_sm-510x382.jpg)
![TRANSLUCENT SERIES | Marbles](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_7906_sm-510x382.jpg)
![Specimen NC 258 | Sleepy Orange Butterfly](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Specimen_SleepyOrangeButterfly_GL-510x382.png)
![Specimen NC 308 | Cicada](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/cicada-510x382.png)
![Specimen NC 1554 | Red Velvet Ant](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Speciman_RedVelvetAnt_GL-1-510x382.png)
![Specimen NC 215 | Hercules Beetle](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Specimen_HerculesBeetle_GL-1-510x382.png)
![Specimen NO. 917 | Saddleback Caterpillar](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Specimen_SaddlebackCaterpillar_GL-1-510x382.png)
![Specimen NC 259 | Clouded Yellow Butterfly](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Specimen_Butterfly_GL-1-510x382.png)
![Kade in BMX regalia](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Kade_finish-510x382.jpg)
![Buzzy Bee & Trike](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Buzzybee_Trike-510x382.jpg)
![Repetition | Spokes & Helmets](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RepetitionSpokesNHelmets-510x382.jpg)
![Specimen NC 2027 | Stag Beetle](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Specimen_StagBeetle_GL-2-510x382.png)
![D-girl | Bike Picnic](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/dgurl_finish_sm-510x382.jpg)
![John Croom | Bike Racer](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/John_BikeRacer_updated-510x382.jpg)
![WalkerBird](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/WalkerBird-510x382.jpg)
![Specimens NC203 & 241](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/SPECIMEN-510x382.jpg)
![Repetition #1 | TravelJoy](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TravelJoy-510x382.jpg)
![Repetition #2 | Tea Kettles](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Repetition_2_TEAkettles-510x382.jpg)
![Olsons 50 Years](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Jim_Poco_50yrsFINAL-1-510x382.jpg)
![Zade](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Zade_portrait.jpg)
![Artifacts | York County](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Artifact_YorkCounty_final.jpg)
![Cat as a Cat](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Cat_as_cat.jpg)
![Repetition #4 | Fondue Pots](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FONDUEpots_still-life-1.jpg)
![Repetition #3 | Vases](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/VASESstill-life.jpg)
![Boots](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/boots_sm.jpg)
![Alena](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sarah_Alena.jpg)
![Incense](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/incense.jpg)
![Easter Table](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/EasterTable.jpg)
![Imago Dei | Dorothy](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMAGOdei_Dorothy700x700.jpg)
![Imago Dei | Stephen](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMAGOdei_STEPHEN_700x700.jpg)
![Imago Dei | Johnny](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMAGOdei_JOHNNY_700x700.jpg)
![Green Visor](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/GreenVisor.jpg)
![59 Years](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/59YEARS.jpg)
![Grandma Jordan | commission](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/jordan_sm.jpg)
![Left Holding the Bag](https://www.artchickee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/I-Will-Hold-the-Bag-1992_sm.jpg)