The artworks below are comprised of a series of portraits, exploring the intersection of archival history and female strength.
Below, each piece is accompanied by its statement, background story, and structural details.
To find out more about each painting in the series, look below and click on the link under each photo.

My art journey is a visual exploration inspired by the WPA government programs of the 1930s.
Each portrait serves as a vessel for a multitude of stories, illustrating that strength in women is not
a singular trait, but a complex, multifaceted reality.

​Just as I build each piece by layering ink and charcoal onto delicate mulberry/rice paper,
these women are formed by the cumulative weight of their own life experiences.
My process mirrors the reality of their existence: the ink marks are permanent, demanding that I honor every stroke,
every mistake, and every unexpected turn. I cannot erase; I must embrace what the medium dictates, working with
what is present rather than lamenting what might have been.

​This is the essence of their journey as well. Like the ink that settles into the fibers of the paper,
these women adapt to the conditions they are given, both the hope and uncertainity.
They do not seek to erase their pasts; instead, they integrate every challenge and triumph into the narrative of who they are,
continuing to move forward with a resilience that defines them.

When choosing my reference photos, I trust a silent connection that speaks directly to my instincts as an artist, mother, and woman.
I select, save, and create each portrait one after another in total anonymity, returning to the original archives to
learn about the photographer and historical timeline only after the final stroke is laid down.

My process is a testament to that endurance: a constant, deliberate progression where I trust the evolution of the work,
allowing the layers to lead me toward the final truth. Finding my own resilience and that of the woman.

Women in Strength.

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