I am interested in how photography derives many of its aesthetic choices, genres and styles from painting and how photography and painting intersect.

In these portraits I select a backdrop that augments the personality of the sitter. I have the sitter look directly into the camera as though they are aware of the viewer, while also trying for differing angles that change the psychological nuance of the gaze. I print black and white silver gelatin prints which I then hand color with photo oils, pushing the coloring beyond a realistic presentation to bring out emotional and psychological aspects of the sitter. I like the background to have its own presence and contribute to the meaning of the image. These images push the boundaries between what is a photograph and what is a painting.