In my portfolio, From Still Life to Real Life, I emphasize peculiarities, contradictory feelings, and the vibrancy of everyday life. I ask viewers to move between the expected and the unexpected. Expectedness comes from painting scenes as they appear. Unexpectedness comes from painting scenes mixed with imagination. Through color choices, texture, and pushing past observation, I focused on the imaginative aspect, the uncertainty of a great wave overcoming the boat, and an archway where emotions like longing to enter the lively party, emerge.

I prefer working from life, but I also love manipulating colors, perspectives, and composition. To play to the strengths of individual scenes, I experiment with a variety of materials. I added pumice, sand, and medium to oil paint to play with texture, and painted thickly with a palette knife. Pieces include bold-color choices and movement, using lines and strokes for a stronger impact. I was not afraid of starting a piece over, and used the opportunity to make it technically stronger through my understanding of new techniques and mediums.