I take an expressive approach in my paintings with bold color and texture, seeking to tell dramatic stories of both awe-inspiring landscapes, as well as scenes from “the everyday” which are often overlooked. Working primarily in oil, I often bring in textured paper and cold wax as a part of my layering process. I consider my paintings to be “snapshots” of a particular view, integrating elements of imagination and sensations felt from a particular environment during a specific point in time. I seek to give a glimpse into not only what is seen, but also what is perceived. "Mini Mercado" is a section of a previous, much larger 30"x30" painting of a street market I visited in Santa Fe, NM. I had a "Breakthrough" moment when I realized that I only really liked a small section of the painting, and the rest felt cluttered. I re-worked, cut and mounted my favorite part of the piece, reiterating that I as the artist have the power to break the rules with my work to get it where I want to be, even if it's through an unconventional process.