Eyeballs Drawing with Reflection

As an artist, I've always been fascinated by the way light interacts with our surroundings. In my work, some people see those lines as physical objects - a tangible manifestation of the intangible. For me, this phenomenon is especially captivating when there's density or fog in the air, allowing the audience to visualize the lines that lights make onstage.

One of my closest collaborators, Jasper Marsalis, also shares my passion for capturing the essence of performance through art. As a musician and visual artist, he tries to 'translate' the experience of performing into a painting or drawing, much like I do with my own creative endeavors.

During my college days, I began experimenting with ways to merge these two interests - music and visual art - and found that they overlapped in unexpected yet fascinating ways. However, it wasn't until I started creating music with my friends in high school that I truly began to explore the concept of 'nothingness' in my work.

I remember feeling a sense of emptiness after completing songs, as if there was no clear direction or purpose. But this void became an opportunity for reflection, and I began to infuse it into my art practice. In my paintings, you'll often find empty center fields that seem to invite the viewer to gaze into an event or spectacle.

This focus on sight has been a recurring theme throughout my artistic journey. Whether it's an obsession with something beautiful, being enamored by its beauty, or getting lost in the moment, I strive to capture this sense of longing and yearning in my work. This story is part of Image issue 17, 'Offering,' a special gift from L.A.'s creative community to the city that seemingly has it all.

As I reflect on my artistic journey, I realize that the lines I see onstage are more than just physical objects - they represent the blurred boundaries between music and art, performance and spectatorship. In the end, it's not about creating something new but about capturing the essence of the moment, allowing others to gaze into the void and find their own reflection.

Eyeballs drawing with reflection