Questions & Answers
Describe your art in three words.
Interpretations of Feeling
Describe yourself in one word.
Listener
What do you love the most about creating art in New Orleans? What particular part of your immediate environment, in your neighborhood specifically influences your work?
I was born and raised in New Orleans and I have always felt that this city is a very spiritual place. I feel that this sense of spirituality and creativity could come from the understanding of how vulnerable our city is. Hurricane season begins every June and with it comes frequent flooding. Living here, we learn to live with the feeling that nature is really in control and being in this state of uncertainty could allow you to care more about living in the moment, hoping for the best or have faith in a higher power.
The heat and humidity in south Louisiana allows mosquitos and termites to thrive here in the summer. However, this same heat and humidity allows cypress trees and crawfish to also thrive. The humidity is ideal for the growth of tropical plants such as gingers, tibouchina, staghorn ferns, birds of paradise and philodendrons. Once you can begin to tolerate the heat, you can start to find to beauty that it brings to our landscape.
Locals like to tell people that they are from New Orleans. When someone says "I am from New Orleans", you can often hear in their voice that they care deeply about this city and they take pride in being from here.
I love living in New Orleans. The landscape, history, food, culture, architecture, music and people here are all very inspiring.
Describe your creative process. Are there any rituals or rites of passage you exercise before you begin a new piece?
My medium is oil paint. I tend mix my paint slowly and work with it quickly, wet into wet. I do not hesitate to wipe out the entire painting if the colors are beginning to get muddy. I do build the panels that my larger pieces are painted on, and I enjoy this step in the process. My dog Otis usually hangs out while I'm painting, he emits very positive energy which tends to help keep morale up.
Where do you draw inspiration?
As mentioned before, I am very inspired by this city, it's people, it's history, it's music, it's food, it's architecture and it's imperfections. I am also especially inspired by the landscape here and the marsh lands.
Who are your artistic influences or gurus?
Willem De Kooning, Fairfield Porter, Robert De Niro Sr., David Hockney, Chaim Soutine, Joan Mitchell, Charles Burchfield, Paul Cezanne, Nicole Eisenman, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Noel Rockmore, Lisa Sanditz
In New Orleans, art and music go hand in hand. What type of music, band or song lyric best describes your work?
Little Freddie King, Rhiannon Giddens,
Where can we find you when you are not creating art?
Gardening, painting my house or walking my dogs with my wife in Holy Cross, Lower Ninth Ward.
What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?
April is an ideal time to be in New Orleans. This is when you will see many native blooms, such as irises, magnolia, azaleas and jasmine. Jazz Fest is also in April!
What is something people don’t know about you? A fun fact.
I know how to find and patch a leak in a roof.
