At the core of my work is an evolving story line that reflects my personal lens to the social, political, environmental and spiritual climate around me. I enjoy working with imagery that is surreal and imaginative by incorporating influences from the structure of my dreams, the culture around me and the direction my life is headed on any given day. I consider my work “vignettes” within a larger ongoing narrative that evolves as I evolve. Representational imagery stemming from my Ojibwe heritage are often a part of my subject matter. They help me to create allegories that reflect subjects that are important to me.
Canvas painting has been my core medium since the beginning of my introduction to art. I believe in the simplicity of a moment captured. I like the viewer to experience some mystery in the image, they become invited to create a portion of the narrative for themselves. This allows me to create intuitively throughout the process and let the paint do its thing while developing imagery. Animated, digital canvases and experimental films are an extension. I wouldn’t consider myself a cartoonist, I feel like each animation I make is a one-time film that exists on its own terms. But I have been inspired by the cartoons of my childhood in the 80’s and 90’s. My work often reflects the ridiculous nature of current events through including cartoon characters into the composition. I have been able to use my animation practice to create stories with intent to speak openly about important matters and experimental films represent my journey in the form of surrealism. I enjoy merging my painter self with my filmmaker self to create art that lives and pushes the boundaries of a space. 3D projection mapping and digital canvases are sometimes the result of this process. Paint, pixels, light and space allow me to create in a way that makes sense to me.