Familiar
Familiar
Los Angeles is singular in the distinct visual imagery that makes up the city. Yet, it is also ubiquitous, as the visual elements that make up the city are so deeply ingrained in the collective perception of Southern California.
This body of work references the tension between the specific and the universal, using the power of the visual language of Southern California, where recurring motifs create a sense of familiarity for locals, as well as in the imagination of society at large.
My paintings begin as a beautiful moment from my life, captured with my phone. Photography is akin to sketching for me. The paintings come together over time, with each painting consisting of many layers. The bottom layers often contain thick, opaque applications of paint, with transparent glazes making up the final layers. I spend a lot of time mixing paint, as color is one of the most important elements of my work. I use color to convey the emotions I felt when I saw the image, and the passion I feel when I paint. I think of my work as “emotional realism.”
These paintings, titled “Familiar,” speak to the beauty of the unique, and universally recognizable, landscapes of Los Angeles and Southern California.