Emerald Forest

Existing between the dream world and wakefulness, my process begins with the surprising forms that cross my semi-conscious mind. Impressions of people, settings, and objects from my dreams combine, calcify, and condense into new elemental shapes.
In my abstract portraiture, I reinterpret dream visitors and characters through form, pattern, and color, creating space for another rhythmic version of a soul.
𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘦 was a commissioned piece, created for a friend. With this work, I discovered that I could apply my dream-vision portraiture process with greater intention. Drawing on what I know about Mike—his interests, aesthetic sensibilities, and personality—I pieced together a new version of him. Rather than creating a literal likeness, I sought to capture an impression of his character through my own abstract visual language.
The screenprinting process inherently mimics the way these visions render themselves in my mind's eye, layer by layer. Beginning with a hand-drawn sketch, I then develop my visions digitally, and use a combination of digital and traditional techniques to produce each silkscreen. The result is a portrait that exists somewhere between observation, interpretation, and imagination.