Albert Einstein is one indisputable luminary who in my opinion exemplifies the balance, brilliance, and altruism I look for in my heroes. Subsequent to his dream of riding a beam of light to the edge of the universe, with the tools of calculus and physics, he radically changed our understanding of the universe. But the dream came first, and everybody dreams.I believe everyone has something incredible to offer. In my creative project paintings I attempt to demonstrate with the tools of paint and canvas my peculiar dream of the cosmos from macrocosm to microcosm.I ride the beam of light using paint and canvas, in my creative project paintings I celebrate my fascination with that intuitive element we all share. I also celebrate those who have gone before with the wisdom to seek an understanding and discernment of the genius we all share, have access to, and indeed must thoughtfully and carefully awaken for our species to evolve past its current halting material, ideological, and technological adolescence. / Department of Art

The objective of this creative project is to develop a series of paintings in oil on canvas that focus on the issue of mankind's crumbling relationship with the natural world. The paintings will be produced through a process that begins with an intuitive abstract approach and will later develop layered representational imagery. My technique of painting involves initially choosing and mixing colors without regard to the finished painting, allowing the subconscious to determine the direction that the painting will take. Upon completion of the under painting, I begin creating stencils and layering imagery that provoke thought concerning nature and our place in it. This collection of paintings is representative of the process I have developed through a wide variety of influences, and is a means of communicating my concern for the ever dwindling natural environment and our connection to it. / Department of Art

The objective of this creative project is the creation of sculptures and paintings that make statements concerning judgment and its subsets, fault, blame, martyrdom, self-sacrifice, and absolution. The group of pieces shown at the Thesis Exhibition explores recurring themes and iconography within a historical context, while addressing issues in a contemporary social framework. Repetitive elements and images such as self-portraits, the pointing finger, and the heart, are set in the present, but layered with the iconography and history of Saint Sebastian. The techniques used to achieve these works are metal casting and fabrication, casting using a variety of materials, woodworking, and oil painting. These techniques, along with materials such as wood, steel, plaster, wax, and branches congeal to form a body of work that is conceptually harmonious. / Department of Art

The primary objective of this creative project was the exploration of cultural and self identity and the painting techniques used for their creation. The paintings are an attempt to portray through the use of the human figure and symbolic elements to communicate my personal struggle relating to events in my past, present, and future. In these three large paintings I have explored an approach reminiscent to German Expressionism style along with more contemporary motifs which are derived from my research and past experiences in painting at Ball State University. It was very important for me to spend time researching artist involved in the German expressionist movement, because they have been an integral part of reshaping the way I approach art. This body of work required a variety of traditional oil painting techniques including: canvas construction, under painting, stumbling, and glazing. / Department of Art