I believe there is a universal appeal in the specific and that a work depicting a small, personal scene will also resonate with viewers. My aim is to successfully convey the feelings that initially attract me to a scene through the choices I make - from the colors and composition to more subtle elements. While my pieces have often been described as realistic, I never try to hide the fact that the work is a painting not a photographic interpretation. A successful painting will always manipulate reality in order to convey the artist’s vision.