Bird Brain

Unrest is what I strive for in my pieces. To be more honest, unrest is what I strive for when I am not being lazy. Discovering what is within and connecting that to the outside world is the zenith of an artist’s experience with each piece... but it is daunting at times.

As I begin any piece, I have one, very simple idea typically. It is that I will draw a picture of an elephant, a seal, a historical figure, etc. As I continue in the process, it takes on deeper and deeper meaning. I find myself more enraptured with the subject. Compassion, anger, longing, etc., can all be part of the process that creates the final piece.

These pieces begin from a sketch pad, which is then scanned. I then digitally color the subject and create background elements. At first this process formed from mere convenience. I had lost my studio, and placing a lot of work in a sketchpad and computer took up decidedly less space than large canvases.

However, I have always been interested in the very crisp lines of graphic design, and through this process I can maintain the hand drawn, organic feel of the image with the crispness and definitive space provided by the computer. I really enjoy this juxtaposition of style, and I feel it gives my...

Lamar Dodd School of Art
University of Georgia
BFA