What does Surrender mean to you? To me, it means not being afraid to move forward, not clinging to the past, and just appreciating what’s right in front of me. With this new collection, I let go of the way I used to approach a canvas and the material itself. Surrendering to the material of my paintings, allowing the paint and canvas to be the focus, has been a transformative experience.

For this collection of work, I was really inspired by the works and processes of Helen Frankenthaler and Jackson Pollock. I was thinking about how they worked in the spontaneity of their work as well as their focus on material. If you look at Pollock’s work, you’ll see the splashes of paint and the brushstrokes left behind, which really gives you a glimpse into his process.

Out of all the abstract expressionists, Helen Frankenthaler is the one that I keyed on the most. Whenever I teach my students about abstraction, I would always show Helen Frankenthaler’s work and how, like Pollock, she put paintings on the ground, used buckets of paint and sponges. I always thought of painting like that and I finally did, but I was actually inspired by a student of mine. At the end of the year she chose to do a painting on raw canvas and I asked her why she made that choice and she replied, “That’s what Helen Frankenthaler does.” In that moment, that’s when it clicked and after that I started experimenting with raw canvas.

For me, creating art is not just about the act of painting, it’s also about knowing when to pull back and observe. Even more so with this series, I’ve learned to trust my intuition and commit to my work without hesitation. But, I also take the time to meditate and view my painting before deciding if they’re truly done. There is also a lot of self discovery with this new collection. There were moments of vibrant energy where I found success with cool colors, yet there were also times when the process slowed down. I think as artists we often find ourselves grappling with the positive aspects of our artistic nature, struggling to stay committed to a single path for too long.

Sometimes we even hesitate to share our work, but receiving insights from others can guide us to new possibilities. When I was town between different artistic styles, my brother’s perspective reminded me that diverse interpretations connect with people in unique ways. And thanks to fellow artists like Dan Johnson, I learned to appreciate the interplay of hot and cool colors, inspiring me to create harmonious pieces that bridge the gaps in perception.

Art has the power to evoke emotions without telling a specific story. I think the greatest thing I could with my work is connect with somebody through pure color, shape, value and texture. I hope viewers take a moment to be present with themselves and the artwork. This collection is very much an open-ended story, that invited individual interpretations that unveil themselves gradually. As our minds naturally weave narratives, I hope each person finds a unique and ever-changing connection with the art.