I am a massage therapist and an artist, and I find that my two professions profoundly inform each other. As a massage therapist, I help people to relax and feel better through touch. As an artist, I help people to connect with the beauty of the human form. I am constantly aware of the beauty, strength and weaknesses of the human body. I see how muscles and skin can be both strong and delicate, and I am inspired by how the body can be a source of both pleasure and pain. In both careers, I am exploring and responding to the body, but in different ways.
In figure painting, female nudes are generally expected to be the norm. I believe that men are often underrepresented in art, and I want to create work that celebrates them.
The male body is often seen as a symbol of strength and power. But I am also interested in how it can be vulnerable and sensual. My paintings are not exercises in anatomy. I strive to capture details of the body with accuracy, but I also want my paintings to evoke a sense of emotion and atmosphere. My work is an exploration of the relationship between body and mind, between the physical and the emotional. I use a variety of styles, from realism to abstract, to create paintings that are both visually striking and emotionally stirring.
Both massage therapy and painting give me similar tactile and kinesthetic feedback as I work. Instead of massage strokes, I use bold brush strokes and more detailed, precise marks to create my paintings.Touch is an essential part of the painting process, just as it is in massage.
I believe that art can be a powerful tool for communication and healing. My paintings are a way to share my own experiences of beauty, vulnerability, and strength. I hope my work will inspire others to see the body in a new light and to appreciate the beauty that is all around us.
