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of ideas come to me, or when I take the subway.
I like to observe people and funny situations.
I also look at art in museums, galleries, and in
books. I like the strange still life, the corner of a
painting, the close crop of two hands touching.
Then I often come up with mental images and
leave space for free association. One thing leads
to another...Have you thought about not being based in
NYC, Brooklyn specifically? Does Europe or
abroad come into play at all? It feels like New
York is once again having a very fine moment
with a ton of really talented painters all doing
new and interesting things.
I lived for a short time in Tokyo and was based
in Paris for a few years after graduation. So
I have a little bit of experience living as an
artist outside of New York. I found that living
here is the easiest of all places because you
could find decent wages. Maybe finding a rent
controlled apartment also made things easier,
meaning I could afford a small studio space on
the side. Above all, like you say, New York is
just an amazing place to live in. It’s the city of
extremes, extreme high, low, wealthy, poor, ugly,
beautiful... so much happens all year long, I love
my art community, and there is just this very
unique energy here.Every once in a while, I consider other places that
may have cheaper rent or way of life... I could
see myself moving somewhere else for a short
time, for a show maybe. Like in any relationship,
sometimes you need a break.What's your favorite color to paint with right
now?
I just bought a tube of warm, light yellow oil
paint. I just want to mix it into everything! Mixed
into other colors, it gives them this bright, warm,
optimistic hue.What was the last art show you went to that
made you just want to go home and paint all
day? Or is that every show?
Every art shows acts as a stimulant and makes
me want to be a better artist. Sadly, I never go
to shows as much as I want. However, I think
the Grant Wood retrospective at the Whitney
Museum was very inspiring: the rigor, the clarity
of the compositions and the exaggeration of the
forms. Recently, Sara Hantman and Esther Varet
(VSF gallery) gave me the catalogue of Gertrude
Abercrombie made by Karma Gallery for her
retrospective show there last summer, and while
I missed the show, I think it could have been one
of my favorites had I seen it.You have two upcoming shows with Anton
Kern, a two-person show and your first solo
show. How is the preparation for that going,
and is there a little bit of excitement for you
to have your first solo with a gallery thatTop: Lateral Embrace, Acrylic and oil on canvas, 30” x 30”, 2018 Bottom: Dog Days, Gouache on paper, 2018