Artist Statement

I embarked on my artistic journey in 2000 with a commitment I had never before mustered. Upon choosing this path, I discovered not only my passion but also my voice, which has resonated within me ever since.

My creative process is deeply influenced by a multitude of experiences. Having been born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and with family scattered across the Netherlands, England, and Wales, my upbringing instilled within me a rich tapestry of memories and cultural influences that subtly permeate my art.

Immigrating to California with my family at the age of 12, I embraced my new home, eventually becoming a naturalized American citizen in my mid-20s, relinquishing my Venezuelan passport due to the challenges of international travel. California, with its diverse landscapes and vibrant energy, became not only my residence but also a profound source of inspiration.

As both a painter and a gardener, I find myself drawn instinctively to the abstraction of native poppies. Their organic forms offer a captivating contrast to the vertical structures I once focused on.

Working primarily in oil, my artistic process involves extensive underpainting, which informs the final texture and subject matter of my work. I revel in the tactile experience of layering paint and allowing each stroke to shape the evolving narrative of the piece. Often, paintings undergo a period of gestation, as I set them aside to marinate in their own potential, engaging in an internal dialogue that guides their development.

As my artistic exploration unfolds, I embrace the poetic ambiguity inherent in each painting, inviting viewers to interpret and engage with the work on their own terms. The interplay between form, mark-making, and external influences culminates in compositions that are simultaneously concrete and evocative, inviting contemplation and introspection.