"Gaze" Painting

My work explores personality, emotion, and imagination through portrait and animal painting. I am drawn to faces and creatures that feel expressive, slightly whimsical, and full of character. Each painting begins with careful observation but evolves through color, texture, and instinct. I am particularly interested in the moment when a painting shifts from representation into something more interpretive. Colors may become unexpected, edges soften or dissolve, and the subject begins to feel alive in a different way. This process allows me to capture not only likeness, but presence. Animals - especially dogs - appear frequently in my work because they carry an honesty that is both playful and deeply emotional. Their expressions invite viewers to connect immediately and personally with the painting. Working primarily in acrylic and watercolor, I build layers slowly, allowing transparency and fluidity to shape the final image. The unpredictability of these mediums is part of the conversation between me and my painting. Ultimately, my goal is to create work that feels intimate and engaging - paintings that invite the viewer to pause, smile, and discover the personality within the subject.