Artist Biography
As a child, I was always drawn to art and art-making. Since elementary school, my favorite class was art and the topics seeped into my after school activities. Art is in my blood. My grandmothers were both charcoal and oil painters, and my adoptive grandfather, a cartoonist for the TV Show School House Rock. My life’s work thus far has been in art. I work primarily with oil paint to create representational figure portraits depicting men and women, some solo, some interacting with one another, to explore the correlation between imagery and nostalgia. I am also the photo archivist in my family, I keep photo albums with extensive labels. Through movement and human connection, my artwork emphasizes the oneness of memories and a moment in time. I believe that art is a way to document and later unearth our memories.
My creative process involves mindfulness, photography, loose painting gestures, mark making, and strong brush strokes. I paint with intention and clarity with the goal of viewers being able to make a personal connection, tap into their own sense of nostalgia, and stimulate memories.
My current body of work is comprised of a series of round oil paintings featuring multiple figures within landscapes. The round shape is meant to just offer a glimpse through the portal of the moment in time. The imagery focuses on the connection between the subjects and their scenery, and the intimate bonds between them. The faces are hidden to invite the viewer into their relationship with nostalgic times in their lives.
The figures in these paintings draw inspiration from my own life and personal memories. The relationship between the people themselves is demonstrated compositionally, by having my own friends and partners alongside me in my reference photography. Additionally, the implied movement in the imagery suggests life and passion, as if we are viewing this through a portal of time.
Thesis Abstract
The topic of this thesis is the relationship between art and nostalgia. It explores the connections between art making, art viewing, and art experiences with the recollection of memories and nostalgic feelings. Art can engage emotions, elicit feelings, and can enliven one’s aesthetic curiosities. It can also promote mental wellness, stimulate memories and nostalgic moments, and enhance overall quality of life. This thesis generated five oil paintings on round shaped canvas, simulating portals of memory or nostalgic moments for the viewer to engage with. The portal’s question if art viewing promotes nostalgic memories, the concept of memory enhancement through art making, how art viewing and making can promote quality of life. The methods, results, and conclusions are discussed to explore how art these painted portals may offer a way to unearth memories and promote nostalgia.