In my Undergraduate work, I was highly influenced by Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Particular favorites were - and still are- Cy Twombly, Helen Frankenthaler, and for more contemporary influences I was drawn to Julie Mehretu. Narrative at this time was highly private and personal, which is similar to my current work, but at the time I was less ready to connect to my audience/viewers other than the feel and essence.  I conveyed this with color and active nature of marks. Life is a series of experiences that are connected with moments. These connections comprise our identities, philosophies, and beliefs. In this sense, I am interested in the visual landscapes of thought and emotion.  The pieces created are hinged on my personal desire for normalcy, a sense of relief, and the cognitive processing of my decisions, feelings, and memory. Process is vital and the reliving of mistakes, joys, or sadness through my work becomes a prayer or release of tension. Once the piece is completed, the next idea is processed as if the idea was not obsessed over, and the work becomes a mental artifact