Through studying visual art, I have discovered a variety of media that I enjoy working in. Some of my favorites are relief printmaking, ceramics, oil painting, and collage. I love to sit down with a sketchbook and just draw whatever is in front of me. In my artwork, I strive to find a sense of calm and immediacy. I often gravitate toward a bright, warm color palette and prefer to work in illustrative style. Most of what I create incorporates my personal experiences, which helps me to process memories, capture moments, almost like snapping a photo.  I find that grabbing onto these little slivers of beauty, by sketching or painting them, helps me to appreciate the good things in my life more fully. There is something captivating about the act of pausing for just a moment to look, to capture the beautiful – the beam of light reflecting off a tree, the wildflowers blooming along the road, the cozy arm back chair sitting in the corner of the room. I think this is why I love the work of the Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, and Fauvists, such as Matisse and van Gogh. They are masters at capturing the fullness of a moment with their bright, lively colors and free, expressive brushstrokes that radiate emotion. Because they grabbed onto those moments, we can gaze at them over a hundred years later. I want to do this in my work: hold onto the beautiful moments in my life and share them with those around me