The core philosophy behind my work is rooted in contemporary folk language — using simple, symbolic imagery to explore universal human experiences like growth, connection, memory, and transformation. I’m interested in work that feels timeless rather than topical.

For this mural at The Art Docks, I focused on clarity and emotional openness. The imagery is intentionally direct but open-ended, allowing people to project their own meanings onto it. At this scale especially, I wanted the work to feel grounded and human — something that belongs to the city and evolves with the people who live around it.

Public art has a different responsibility than gallery work. It meets people where they are — in passing, in motion, sometimes unconsciously — and becomes part of their daily rhythm.

I believe public art is important because it creates shared visual experiences across different communities. Ideally, it offers a moment of pause or reflection in an otherwise fast-moving environment. With this mural, I hope people feel a sense of calm and recognition — even if they’re not sure why — and that the work slowly reveals itself the more time they spend with it.

My process usually starts with drawing and collecting references, but more than anything it begins with listening — to the site, the architecture, and the surrounding community.

For this mural, I was influenced by the physical scale of the wall and the urban context around it. I leaned into strong silhouettes and clear forms that would read from a distance while still holding quieter details up close. The palette developed from that same thinking — something restrained, warm, and steady that could live comfortably in the space over time.

The mural was painted using exterior-grade acrylics and spray applications, layered with brushwork to maintain a balance between precision and the human hand. I rely heavily on projection to establish scale and proportion, but once the structure is set, much of the work becomes intuitive.

One of the biggest challenges — and rewards — of working at this scale is physical endurance and consistency. Maintaining clean lines and a steady rhythm across such a large surface requires patience and focus, but that discipline is also part of what makes mural-making so satisfying.

If someone encounters this mural ten years from now, I hope they experience it the same way someone might encounter an older folk object — as something quietly familiar but still mysterious.

More than anything, I’d want them to feel that it was made with care and intention, and that it reflects a moment in time without being limited to it.

If there were one song playing while someone viewed this mural, it would be “Hey Little” by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.

The first time I heard it, it brought me to tears. The song is about his first daughter, and as someone who has watched my own ten-year-old grow, it resonates deeply with me. This mural is ultimately about growth — the planting of a seed and the realization that so much of what unfolds comes from beyond you. As parents, we’re only vessels for a time. Eventually, we have to let go and watch the person we love most grow beyond our shadow.