In my work, I focus on portraiture and figurative work. I completed the course of study at Angel Academy, and after this study, I came to the Grand Central Atelier. When I started my art career later in my twenties after my degree in anthropology, I recognized that as I started, my technical ability was a little behind some other dedicated students. However, I do not view this as time lost. I still use my anthropological degree when I study people for painting. It is enormously gratifying to me to understand people and to share that perception through the still image. I appreciate the transcendent power of visual art to express shared humanity across different cultures, languages, and time.
In addition to the 65 (53 hours class time) hours a week I spend at the GCA studio, I work late into the night at home completing master copies. I plan to teach a master copy workshop in Winter 2020 on Dutch Masters at the Dutch Academy of Realist Art in Haarlem, Netherlands. I am a nightly monitor for evening structure classes. I maintain an uninstructed evening pose with another classmate. I take a Saturday class with Gregory Mortenson all day Saturday, and I practice self-portraits from the mirror every Sunday. I compete in composition, structure, and portrait competitions at the studio and the Salmagundi Club. I usually work 90+ hours every week.
Admittedly, my resume is relatively light on competitions and galleries. For the previous arc of my artistic career, I have focused on my training and education. With this scholarship, I hope very much to continue to improve technique and composition and to further the reputation for superior quality which the Art Renewal Center and its members represent. This award would be a springboard towards more competitions and for gallery representation. After graduating from the GCA next year, I will compete in salons and complete portrait commissions.