I embrace an illustrative approach to image-making in order to better express my ideas symbolically. Often, I choose not to overly render the subject matter as realistic but prefer to present the essential idea of what the subject looks like, which allows for a more psychological interpretation by the viewer. Early interests in the Surrealist paintings of René Magritte, the perception-shifting works of M.C Escher have inspired this graphic approach to image-making, as well as an interest in art that is subversive in its intent, while the paintings of Glenn Brown and installations by Yayoi Kusama also contribute to these interests. The way I use these forms influences where the eye moves through the picture while looking at my art.