24 x 18 inches (🇳🇿 610 x 460 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Cate, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

I met Cate as the girlfriend of the son of my New Zealand host family. She recently graduated high school and is getting ready for university in a couple months.

She talked about loving working with horses and excitement about her job at the Whakatāne visitors center.

She captures the optimism and strength of so many of the people from New Zealand.

The wind and sun were playing with us during the photoshoot and the painting shows her hair taking on a life of its own. When she viewed the painting later, she was happy about getting to see a version of her smile without the braces on that should come off later this year.

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

37 x 59 inches (🇳🇿 950 x 1500 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Tommy, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

18 x 14 inches (🇳🇿 460 x 360 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Loisi, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

I met Loisi and her friend Era at Javaman Cáfe in Whakatāne. I was having tea and a weird sandwich made of waffles, pesto and chicken. They were having desserts. I was attracted to both of their laughter! 

After a while of building up my courage, I introduced myself as an artist and asked to take their photos to paint portraits from. They said yes, and I let them know I would be out on the patio whenever they finished up.

A bit later, they came out and we did a photoshoot against a pink stucco wall behind the building. They were making jokes and laughing about the situation of some guy taking their photos behind a building. It was pretty comical. It was starting to rain too. I got some great shots of both.

This painting captures her joyous personality and lust for life. The pink of the stucco wall behind Javaman Cáfe made it through to the final painting, and I love it.

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

37 x 59 inches (🇳🇿 950 x 1500 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Bre, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

37 x 59 inches (🇳🇿 940 x 1500 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Te Marunui, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with permission of the model

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

30 x 40 inches (🇳🇿 760 x 1020 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Taongahuru, Tauranga, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

30 x 40 inches (760 x 1020 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Einstein, Tauranga, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

18 x 24 inches (🇳🇿 460 x 610 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Jack, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

24 x 18 inches (🇳🇿 610 x 460 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Ademola, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

I met Ademola on my first full day in New Zealand. He was hanging out on a weekend morning in a nature area near the Whakatāne River. We got to talking, and he said that he was originally from Laos, Nigeria. He’s a PhD civil engineer working in Whakatāne.

Later, while walking to the bus stop, I happened to run into him again outside his flat. He gave me a ride over to Ōhope to visit an art gallery I was thinking of showing my work in. He shared about his family here in New Zealand and his separation from his wife and children living in Auckland.

It was a major synchronicity, and I got to show him the final painting. He was happy and surprised by it. He’s saving up to buy it off me after next payday.

The use of bold colors in this painting highlights Ademola’s big personality. The bright green and yellow backdrop captures the vibrancy of the plants growing around the pond where I took his photo. The two energies of the nature and his personality together create a tension the viewer can easily get lost in.

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

18 x 14 inches (🇳🇿 460 x 360 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Hine, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

I had done a photoshoot with of a friend of Hine’s just prior to running into her. Her friend suggested that Hine do what she had just done in getting her photo taken for a portrait. 

We were on the patio behind Javaman Cáfe in Whakatāne. It was just starting to rain a bit, but there were patches of good sunlight. 

Hine was there with her family; her partner and two children. They were finishing up lunch when Hine and I headed over to a pink stucco wall to do the photoshoot. We did some shots with her hair up and her hair down. 

She struck me as a powerful woman who had responsibilities for a big family. I had the sense that she knew who she was and what she wanted out of life. Her energy was strong and at the same time caring for those she loves. 

It came to me to put a gold leaf circle behind her head to highlight her role as a powerful matriarch. I was a little unsure of following this creative impulse, but I trusted the download I got and am ecstatic with the way it turned out.

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

37 x 59 inches (🇳🇿 940 x 1500 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

24 x 18 inches (🇳🇿 460 x 610 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Tracie, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

18 x 24 inches (🇳🇿 460 x 610 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Stephanie, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

18 x 14 inches (🇳🇿 460 x 360 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Anna, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

created with the permission of the model

While in New Zealand, I’ve stayed connected to my roots in the United States. I included a portrait of my lover Anna (they/them) as a way to stay connected.

Anna is a non-binary, pansexual, Tantra and sex coach and Reiki master living in Salt Lake City, Utah. The work they do with people releases a lifetime of shame and unlocks full access to client’s bodies and energy. They are a modern-day healer using ancient healing modalities.

What came out in the painting of them was a beautifully captured handsome version of them that reads as both/neither male or female. The contrast of the yellow and blue creates a staccato viewing experience and puts the viewer into the space between socially defined binaries.

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand

24 x 18 inches (🇳🇿 610 x 460 mm)
Acrylic on canvas, 2023

Eva, Whakatāne, Aotearoa New Zealand

created with the permission of the model

I met Eva and her friend Loisi at Javaman Cáfe in Whakatāne. I was having tea and a weird sandwich made of waffles, pesto and chicken. They were having desserts. I was attracted to both of their laughter! 

After a while of building up my courage, I introduced myself as an artist and asked to take their photos to paint portraits from. They said yes, and I let them know I would be out on the patio whenever they finished up.

A bit later, they came out and we did a photoshoot against a pink stucco wall behind the building. They were making jokes and laughing about the situation of some guy taking their photos behind a building. It was pretty comical. It was starting to rain too. I got some great shots of both.

The final piece shows off Eva’s happy disposition and quiet wisdom. It is loud and bold and messy while still being soft and endearing. The bright orange background comes forward as the cool colors on her skin pull her backwards, as she takes a step back from the spotlight to take in all that is happening around her.

Exhibition History
2023 - Portraits of Community: One-word Stories, The Art House, Whakatāne,
Aotearoa New Zealand