My work is inspired by a deep love of antiques and vintage toys and dolls — anything discarded, broken, or forgotten. I find beauty in objects covered in rust and dust. I hunt through antique shops and thrift stores for old dolls and toys that were once loved, and I try to bring them back to life.

Vintage cast iron bathtubs hold a particular meaning for me. They represent a place of escape — both temporary and final.

In each piece, I reach for the space between beauty and sadness. The ultimate goal is melancholy and nostalgia, with a sprinkle of hope.

The work is mixed media, on canvas or board. I use a combination of oil sticks, pastel, and acrylics for the background, then gesso my photograph over it. Once dry, I go back into the piece — painting and scraping until it arrives where it needs to be. Each layer has to dry, so the process takes about two to three weeks. I love it. Especially when a piece turns out well.

I have hundreds of pieces that didn't quite get there. I suppose those are my throwaways. Maybe someone else will see their value.