It was never really a question whether or not I would be an artist. My interests in creating, drawing, and painting developed early on in my adolescent years. I was fortunate to attend a highschool that offered a multitude of art classes. Overall, art helped me get through those teenage years. I've never been quite certain what i was that made me feel more connected to painting over other mediums, it's almost as simple as being primal to my nature. As simple as every time I sit down to work on a piece how I am continually fascinating with what I can create with the brush.

Originally, I went to college to study interior design and quickly learned that wasn't the way of my path. I then switched to fine arts and began my bachelors degree in painting. From that moment there was no question that painting is my calling.

Your work draws heavily on the human anatomy, its complexities, intricacies, and fragility – what inspired this direction?

After completing my Associates Degree in Fine Arts, I knew it was time to find the inspiration to develop a body of work - that is, an entire collection of paintings that could combine highly conceptual approaches with visual impact. Drawing from my personal history, feminist ideals, political paradigms, I tossed around a lot of ideas, yet none of the ideas crossing my mind were able to engage the depth of substance I was seeking to make an entire body of work. Then, I saw The Bodies: The Exhibition at the Museum of Science here in Buffalo. As I made my way through the exhibition - I was increasingly astounded by all the many different ways the human body was being portrayed, anatomical perfect and able to carry its passing of time - I had become inspired to visualize and see the inside of human body as part of our character and emotional expression. .

The subject matter of my paintings are focused on imagery of human anatomy. I see the different systems our anatomical being and our physical human bodies as having ways to express emotion and personality. To convey a specific emotion, I can then manipulate certain areas of the body, what it looks like on the inside, each in different, diverse and varied ways, such as, multiplying particular organs and/or substituting color palettes. It is here, where I think we get into, merge into this 'world of fantasy' aka ‘Phantasmogoria’.

As a visual learner, I've had to spend countless hours combing through, studying and researching ever-countless animal and human anatomy textbooks (its really never enough) to really grasp our intricate inner-contours. I am constantly trying to challenge my imagination. The paintings in this series have been done on glass and mirror, beyond any limits of the frame. Each painting is an anatomical portrait of specific emotions or people I have known and a way to represent their emotional being.

Yes I completely believe that I have tapped a guiding vision in painting. Painting is the ultimate source of happiness in my life, as well as a necessary outlet, sometimes a vice. Its can seem easy for extended periods of time to pass without having painted, I get moody, become impatient - all it takes is a good six hours and the start of a new project to get my passions back in order. I always become aware when I need to create. Painting has overtaken many aspects of my life, I am always looking for inspiration in conversations with friends, exchanges and passings with strangers, the bank teller, the environment. I often remind myself of something one of my most inspiring mentor and professor told me when I have questioned my decisions I am making in my work, when I have doubt myself, that is, I am an artist, I am here to create, I can always improve. Its good to make mistakes, its even good to make bad paintings too. Simple put, if you never make a bad painting, you will never know what you are fully capable of.

The challenges are what keeps me interested in art. Every experience of painting for me is always a lesson, every time I pick up the brush. Sometimes its a struggle for knowing the right color, the right angle, understanding the object, how I see it changing. I am always on the lookout for new resources and material. Overall, most challenge is making sure my work is relevant, that my art not only appeals to me but that I can also reach audiences and new viewers.

It's always a challenge to define success because the definition of success changes, depending on who you are as a person ( which consistently changes) and at what given time, etc.. In art, the definition of success changes and fluctuates as well. I perceive successes when I've mastered a new technique or mapped out a concept, an idea that I've connected with. I always view it as a success when there is interest to exhibit my work, showing my pieces in public spaces, sharing with my community, it's also when I receive a compliment for my work. These all define success to me.

Many artists gravitate to larger cities for the appeal of their artistic and creative communities, inspired and in the thick of the art market and urban energy – at times a fantasy itself, what inspired your decision to remain in Buffalo, New York?

My father's declining health was a major factor in any decisions to move. I felt a real sense of responsibility to be here, to be close, for my parents. I have no regrets not making a departure from Buffalo. It was more important being able to spend the last few years of my father's life close to him. I do have a sense of responsibility when I think of my upbringing and life in Buffalo, a very tight community lives here. Creatively, there are many beautiful things happening.

If you get out and get to know Buffalo, it's obvious there are a wide variety of people, places, communities, etc.. A weird mix of class structure, low-end to upscale, rough streets, and suburbs. Like any other city, it has its problems - though it is so small that it often seems like a really big family. In connecting with my work, I am totally inspired by the street art and graffiti art. We are blessed with so many great art festivals that bring the city together, various galleries open to the public both large and small scale exhibits and productions. A lot of people put Buffalo down, it's kind of like the short kid in class with the dirty fingernails but its easy to make it a great place to live.