I grew up in a southern suburb of Los Angeles and went to university by request of my mom.

I do not want the figures in my paintings to be identifiable or to have their own personalities.  They are intended to be blank vessels that viewers can project themselves onto.

They are dealing with the usual qualms of modern existence.

I think the human body is really beautiful.

I definitely appreciate the art of fashion, it is too bad clothes cost so much. I take into consideration how the white tees fit my figures… You must like fashion too for making such a connection.

I do not even like De Chirico, to be honest. I would not hang one of his paintings in my house (laughs). I also have not looked at a Dalí painting since my days in school. My work is all based on tangible waking moments and emotions rather than the subconscious and dream state. As far as style and technique goes, I am more drawn to old painters like Titian.

I have created these environments in an attempt to be minimal, not surreal. I did not like the idea of having decorative elements in my paintings. The figures tend to be depicting some type of struggle and drama, and I use color to convey a contrasting positive emotion and perspective to what the figures illustrate.