2020

Oil, epoxy, and polymer clay on canvas.

I made this as a gift for Nicole, a globe-trotting adventurer who had moved into a new apartment. I chose a photo I took of her driving a boat on Lake Union, and imagined a giant Kraken in her favorite colors rising up from the depths behind her.

2020

Wood, epoxy, polymer clay, and oil on canvas.

This painting was a housewarming gift for friends who enjoyed goth culture, clowns, New Orleans, and reptiles. I included their beloved pet cat and snake, and added a harlequin pattern as a nod to their coulrophilia. I created snakes out of polymer clay reinforced with baling wire and red Swarovski Crystal eyes. I epoxied the canvas and snakes to the ornate wood cutout.

This was a gift created for Chicago native Lauren “The Chief” Lavin. She enjoys making Chicago style pizza, gaming with her partner Anthony, and bonding with their two corgis Gimli and Gambit. They enjoy Halloween, humor, and 80’s nostalgia.

Oil, Acrylic, Clay, and Epoxy on Canvas.

This was created as a gift for their move back to Chicago from Seattle. I painted this portrait in the style of 80’s family photos. I knew it was cheesy, so I decided to “go ham” and surround them with their favorite pizza. Since Chicago style pizza is often square, I decided to build a crust frame out of terra cotta. I built the form out of coils which I molded to the frame in four pieces, poked bubbly crust texture, added fake parmesan pieces, then baked it. I painted the crust in acrylic to extra crispy perfection, then epoxied it to the frame. Once it was completed, I boxed it up in a Chicago Style Pizza box and delivered it to them with actual pizza for their going away party.