I started this work with a question: What does it mean to live in Great Barrington in 2023? Living in Great Barrington contrasts how I grew up in New York City, leading me to notice what life is like in a small town.

To answer this question, I started to observe and take photographs of the streets of Great Barrington. I found crowds gathering on the streets in the summer to see Busking performances. Street performers, fire throwers, and musicians light up the street. I found the street reflection in the coffee shop window on an early day in April, where I go every morning to get coffee. I saw families lining up to get ice cream at night when the spring weather slowly turned to summer.

I’m interested in how the visual elements of my paintings can make people feel. I find that in the translation from photographs to oil painting, I can depict mood and connection through the expressiveness of paint.