Medium:

Oil with Gold Leaf

Dimensions:

30 x 40 inches

Year:

2026

Artist Statement:

For years, my life was defined by travel schedules, corporate consulting, and complex problem-solving.  On paper, it looked like success; in reality, I was living in a state of cognitive dissonance—living out a corporate script, someone else’s dream, while slowly unraveling inside. I promised myself that happiness was across the horizon just past the next project or promotion, only to realize years have slipped by while I remained trapped in place.

I found a way to give myself space to be introspective; this ultimately allowed me to discover how important art was to my well being. 

This painting is a map of that evolution over time, structured in three symbolic layers:

1. The Subconscious Mind

The lower background represents the hidden, chaotic undercurrents of the mind. In this surreal space, standard rules of physics don’t quite apply—invisible hands seem to move memory and thought around behind the scenes. In this space time continuum, sits a skeleton: a symbol of the raw, truest self. To find answers, we must unmask that true self, strip away ego, and confront honest truths.

2. The Gathering of Insights

The upper background translates complex internal truths into visual symbols.  Here, I blend personal imagery with cultural symbolism:

• Balance: The wild, instinctual energy of the zebra contrasted against the calm comfort of the teddy bear.
• Time & Transition: Melted clocks reflecting the fluid nature of past, present, and future, while butterflies mark transformative stages of life.
• Observation: Doors and eyes throughout the backdrop act as sensory inputs, continually capturing and indexing experiences into the subconscious.

3. The Present Self

Standing in vivid color against the monochromatic background is the central figure—a drummer fully immersed in the joy of his present state. His body bears gold cracks inspired by Kintsugi, the Japanese art form rooted in wabi-sabi (the appreciation of imperfection). The scars aren’t hidden; they are highlighted in gold to show that trauma, repair, and growth are integral parts of a greater whole.

Hopefully something about this resonated with you in some way.   Please feel free to subscribe to my email list and look out for more art and stories.