As a Long Beach painter born and raised in Long Beach, I’m currently working in my studio at the ice house complex downtown. I continue to paint on site in order to gather moments that connect me to my community and the ecosystems present here. My current body of work continue my exploration of the mysterious portals through the natural world that appear in the city.  The inclusion of collage and cutting through paintings explore this idea of transformation similar to mystical experience in the natural world. Embodying the act of the painting process itself, a journey of discovery and sense of self that’s resulted in the pandemic times. As well as daily encounters with my surroundings while emanating a surreal aura of hope and light.