For this series, the artist is ‘in search of’ iconic silhouettes of humanity, as seen through various forms of virtual media. Using watercolor on paper, the artist created 24 paintings to explore the range of self-representation in social media. The goal is to have a conversation about how we represent ourselves in a 3D world and virtual world alike.

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"If I’m being honest, I would show you my ‘For You’ page. It would tell you a lot more than I would volunteer. Down to the second, it is tracked how I interact with my phone screen. My feed is the honest truth. It’s simple--what do you like to look at? Friends, travel destinations, nice clothes, aspirational lifestyles, information, funny cat videos, people dancing? It can be even more niche. Beekeeping, luxury Watches, Motivational speakers, and how-to cleaning videos. The virtual world is vast and very real, connecting the world with a net of information. It is no small feat for me to be able to glance at my phone and see what is happening around the world. Living in the ‘Information Age,’ we are conditioned to consume information for our benefit--to know, learn, adapt, and compete. And, like a moth to a flame, we yearn for the warm glow of our electronic devices, enamored by the potential they hold. User-based platforms like MySpace, Tumblr, Vine, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit allow the individual to design and define themselves in the virtual world, allowing us to represent ourselves. Recently, this ability has been wielded to swing elections, save lives, provide aid, spread information, and gain attention. It is no small feat that a single user can receive millions of views and likes from people worldwide. It is a big stage, but it is equally rewarding as it is brutal. Now, social media is a Business, and the user is both the provider and the consumer.

When I travel, I like to draw in my sketchbook--on a plane, a long bus ride, sitting in a park. If there was nothing particularly interesting to draw, I would turn to my camera roll on my phone and find an image of a beautiful flower I saw, or a picture of a friend I took. I saved worthy images to my ‘Study’ folder on my phone’s photo application. While using my phone to consume social media, I would take screenshots of eye-catching people, things, places and save them to my ‘Study’ folder for later use. As I was more interested in studying the human form, I searched for interesting-looking people online. I found an endless supply of subject matter provided by a plethora of users. I began to see stories unfold, and my ‘For You’ page narrowed down to a small theater of performers.
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This series is a collection from my ‘Study’ folder, filtered down from my ‘For You’ page and virtual experience. This series showcases my camera roll, the things that catch my attention and spark my curiosity. And, if I’m being honest...it’s people."